Schizophrenia is a profound and complex brain condition that affects how people relate to the world around them. Symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, disorganized speech, hallucinations, trouble thinking, and extreme lack of motivation. This mental health condition affects the structure and functioning of a few essential systems in the brain. These include the prefrontal and medial temporal lobe regions, which are involved in working memory. If you are concerned that a person you love is struggling with schizophrenia, a schizophrenia treatment program could be your best option.
At Crestview Recovery, we provide schizophrenia treatment in Portland, Oregon, for those who are ready to begin the healing process. Our comprehensive approach to treatment helps people better understand schizophrenia, how it is affecting their lives, and how they can manage this disorder going forward. If you or someone you care about is struggling with the symptoms of schizophrenia, reach out to Crestview Recovery today. Contact Crestview Recovery to learn how our schizophrenia treatment center can help people living with schizophrenia by calling 866.262.0531 or completing our online form.
Distorted Perspective
Schizophrenia affects your ability to see reality. Instead, your life spirals out of control as you develop a range of effects, including:
- False beliefs
- Disorganized thoughts and speech
- Seeing objects that are not present
- Hearing voices
- Emotional detachment
- Emotional instability
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in every 100 American men and women suffer schizophrenia. Many of these people also struggle with substance use and addiction. Together, schizophrenia and addiction require dual diagnosis treatment. Without this help, your mental health and addiction only worsen over time.
What Part of the Brain Does Schizophrenia Affect?
Schizophrenia affects genders equally in the U.S. When it comes to answering the question of, “What part of the brain does schizophrenia affect,” the disorder involves multiple regions of the brain. These areas include the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic system.
The prefrontal cortex sits directly behind your forehead. This area of your brain provides for executive functioning, such as making decisions, planning, and adjusting your behaviors according to experiences or cues from others. When this area of your brain does not work as it should, your life falls into disorganization and behavioral problems. The basal ganglia connect to the prefrontal cortex. This part of your brain reinforces your behavior patterns based on feeling good. With schizophrenia, how your basal ganglia connect with the prefrontal cortex is impaired.
The Limbic System
Your brain’s limbic system helps you learn and retain memories. It also enables you to process emotions. Imagine how you would feel if you struggled to learn, retain memories, or deal with your emotions. This is the daily frustration for people with schizophrenia. This area of your brain also suffers impaired connection to the prefrontal cortex if you suffer schizophrenia.
In each of these three areas of your brain suffering problems because of schizophrenia, brain chemistry also suffers. In fact, people with schizophrenia also have slightly smaller brains when compared to people without the condition. Together, all of these differences lead to the behaviors people with this mental health disorder experience.
Risk Factors for Schizophrenia
Researchers believe that a number of genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of schizophrenia. Life stressors may also play a role in the start of symptoms. While the exact causes of schizophrenia are unclear, we know that people are more likely to develop schizophrenia if a close family member has the disorder.
Other factors that may increase the risk include exposure to viruses, drug use, and prenatal nutrition. There is also evidence that suggests people with certain genetic variations are more likely to develop the disorder. Additionally, psychological trauma during childhood or early adulthood can be a factor in the development of schizophrenia. It’s also important to note that most people with these risk factors will not develop schizophrenia. The cause of the disorder is likely a combination of these and other factors.
Addiction and Schizophrenia: A Difficult Dual Diagnosis
People with schizophrenia often abuse drugs or alcohol. Knowing how their brain suffers impairments and differences from healthy brains, this self-medication is more easily understood. By engaging in substance use, people with this mental health disorder seek stability and normalcy. That works for the first few doses or drinks. But soon, they fall into the cycle of addiction. Getting help for addiction and schizophrenia at the same time means entering a dual diagnosis schizophrenia disorder treatment program. In such a program, treatments and therapies include:
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Individual therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Extended care addiction treatment
- Aftercare
Our Crestview Recovery therapeutic options allow our team to work with you to create a customized treatment plan that is specifically designed for your needs in recovery. Learn more when you contact us today.
Begin to Heal at Crestview Recovery’s Schizophrenia Treatment Center
Schizophrenia can be a difficult disorder to diagnose because its symptoms vary from person to person. It’s important for anyone experiencing possible signs or symptoms of schizophrenia to seek help from a mental health professional as soon as possible. With proper diagnosis and treatment, people with schizophrenia can lead healthy and meaningful lives.
Entering the right treatment program can help people with schizophrenia tremendously. At Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, we offer schizophrenia and dual diagnosis treatment to help people manage their medications and use healthy coping mechanisms. While there is no “cure” for schizophrenia, through proper treatment, people can live happy and productive lives. If you or a loved one could use support from a team of professionals for schizophrenia, our Crestview Recovery team can help. Contact us now at 866.262.0531, or you can fill out our online contact form.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
