Gebefrenic schizophrenia: symptoms and treatment

One of the most malignant forms of mental disorder is hebephrenic (hebephrenic) schizophrenia. Patients with this pathology are easy to recognize. They are constantly twisted and grimacing. The disease is characterized by an unfavorable prognosis, because it is difficult to treat. More details about its causes and symptoms will be discussed in today's article.

Short description

Since 1871, the history of schizophrenia begins with a hebephrenic illness. The form of this disorder was described by Ewald Hecker. Initially, it was considered as a set of mental disorders, since differentiation with neurosis or psychopathy caused difficulties. Over the next few years, the boundaries of gebefrenic schizophrenia remained blurred. Even today, many scientists are of the opinion that this pathology does not occur in its pure form.

Most often it manifests itself in the senior adolescence. The disease is dangerous because with every subsequent attack it is getting closer to the transition to a malignant form of schizophrenia. In this case, the patient can become dangerous to society in the next 1-2 years. In the absence of treatment, he is capable of criminal acts, and with sexual overtones. Patients without quality treatment in most cases become alcoholics and drug addicts. The combination of such negative factors significantly reduces the life expectancy of a person.

Main reasons

Even today, doctors can not say exactly why the hebephrenic form of schizophrenia develops. However, most of them tend to the version about the genetic and viral nature of the origin of pathology. As a provocative factor, poor living conditions and an unfavorable situation in the family are considered. Various disorders of the neurobiological group, psychotraumatic and stressful situations also increase the likelihood of a mental disorder.

Prevalence and predisposition to disease

The first symptoms of a mental disorder develop as early as adolescence. According to statistical data, among residents of large cities, this pathology is diagnosed several times more often than in rural areas. In males and females, cases of hebephrenic schizophrenia are registered with almost the same frequency.

Usually long before the appearance of her first symptoms, potential patients experience difficulties in social contacts. They have a low level of intelligence. In some cases, there is insufficient weight. As he grows up, the patient begins to experience a strong attachment to the parents. However, he neglects communication with strangers.

Initial stage and course of the disorder

Gebefrenic schizophrenia manifests itself at the age of 14 to about 25 years. Initially, the teenager starts to act unnaturally, often fusses and cranks. Parents rarely pay attention to such changes in behavior. Subsequently, such a person with a high degree of probability will suffer from hallucinations and delusions.

The formation of a schizophrenic defect takes no more than three years. Gradually, the patient loses vital motivation, becomes apathetic, commits unpredictable actions. The nature of the pathological process is continuous, so the so-called bright gaps are absent. However, there is a chance of episodic course with alternating periods of remissions and exacerbations. But even in this case the disease will progress. Its outcome is a complete change in the personality of the patient. He becomes apathetic and weak-willed, unable to serve himself.

Key signs of ailment

This disease is classified as difficult to diagnose. However, a number of clinical signs still allows one to suspect an ailment. What are the symptoms of hephaeopenic schizophrenia?

1. Sharp mood swings (laughter is replaced by depression, closure).
2. Periodically, there is a delusional state and hallucinations. They are short-term in nature, with little or no impact on human behavior.
3. All actions are characterized by primitiveness, and thinking is maintained at the level of a small child.
4. Speech is incoherent and often has no semantic load.
5. In the behavior of the mannerisms are seen.
6. The patient can not take criticism and comments in his address.
7. In especially serious cases, there is an increased sexual attraction.

Also, the hebephrenic form of schizophrenia is characterized by catatonic symptoms. They are manifested by motor disorders. For catatonic disorders are paranoid, and after them - affective. Everything ends in gebefrenic excitement. The exact sequence of manifestations is very difficult to determine.

The behavior of patients resembles the game of a bad actor, who portrays a small child. They can change their voice, fool around, or show unnatural emotions. Love for others is quickly replaced by aggression. Patients do not hesitate to bare the body.

Methods of diagnosis

To confirm the preliminary diagnosis, the patient should be monitored for 2-3 months. Many specialists in this field are sure that pathology can be determined in the presence of a triad of the following symptoms:

• The phenomenon of "inactivity of thoughts";
• Grimacing;
• Unproductive euphoria.

If a suspected hephaeopathic schizophrenia is suspected, the patient should be shown to a psychiatrist. At home, adjust his behavior or completely cure is not possible. Only a qualified specialist is able to correct the situation. The final diagnosis is confirmed after a long observation of the patient, a series of pathopsychological tests, a study of his anamnesis.

Medication Therapy

Unfortunately, hebephrenic schizophrenia is always resistant. You can not get rid of it, but you can ease it a little. The disease must be treated in a timely manner, do not expect that this is a temporary clouding of consciousness.

A patient with this diagnosis must be placed in a hospital, where he will be under the supervision of specialists. Due to high resistance to therapy, high doses of antipsychotics (Clopixol, Rispolept, Azaleptin) and vitamins are prescribed. To soften and somewhat delay the approach of the schizoid defect, the following medicines help: "Fluanxol", "Rispolept", "Seroquel". All drugs are selected individually, taking into account the state of health of the patient.

Other therapies

During the period of remission, medical treatment of hebephrenic schizophrenia is not interrupted, but supplemented with psychotherapy. The latter is used to adapt the patient to society. As a rule, various group therapy options are used:

• Cognitive-behavioral;
• psychodrama;
• Rational-emotional.

In especially serious cases resort to the help of family psychotherapy. For the sessions the doctor invites close relatives of the patient, other patients with similar disorders and disorders. So it is much easier for him to adapt to the disease and survive it, while the effectiveness of the treatment is markedly increased.

Short-term therapy often shows good results at the stage of exacerbation. A long-term treatment is necessary for:

1. Establishing contact with the outside world (using pantomime, art therapy, simple dialogues).
2. Development of communication and behavior skills (dialogues with discussion, modeling of scenes from life are applied).
3. Corrections of interaction with friends and relatives.

What are the main advantages of family behavioral psychotherapy? This method of treatment helps the patient's relatives understand how to behave properly. Gebefrenic schizophrenia is a serious enough ailment, which is also a test for loved ones. They may develop depressive and neurotic disorders in the course of time . With the help of a standard course of psychotherapy, they are easier to perceive the disease and establish relationships in the family.

Forecast

It is necessary to understand how dangerous hebephrenic schizophrenia is. If you do not take timely measures and do not start therapy, the patient will be dangerous for themselves and others. Very quickly, he will stop controlling his own actions, he will do everything that comes to his mind. In such a situation, an immediate hospitalization in a psychiatric clinic is required.