Schizophrenia Specialist

Instic Health

Psychiatry & Neurology Specialists located in Plant City, FL, New Port Richey, FL & Inverness FL

Though schizophrenia is a difficult and challenging disease, you still have reason to hope for living a successful life when you get consistent, compassionate care from Pragnesh Patel, MD, and the team at Instic Health in Plant City, Inverness, Tampa, and New Port Richey, Florida. They take a holistic approach to schizophrenia that focuses on caring for your mental and physical health, with a customized plan that includes medication, therapy, and ongoing community support. If you need help managing your symptoms, call the nearest office, or book an appointment online today.

Schizophrenia Q & A

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder in which you interpret reality abnormally. The disorder affects your ability to think, distorts your perceptions, and alters the way you relate to other people.

What symptoms develop due to schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia causes psychosis, which refers to losing touch with reality. The symptoms fall under three broad categories:

Positive symptoms

This group includes paranoia, delusions, distorted perceptions, and hallucinations. Hallucinations occur when you hear voices or see things that don’t exist. You may also touch, taste, or smell something that isn’t there.

Negative symptoms

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia include an absence of emotion, extreme lethargy, social withdrawal, and an inability to make plans for or participate in activities you once enjoyed.

Disorganized symptoms

Disorganized symptoms include:

Confused and illogical thinking
Jumbled or rambling speech
Abnormal movements
Bizarre behaviors
Repetitive movements
Responding to one topic with an unrelated topic
Repeating what the other person said

Many people with schizophrenia also have a hard time concentrating and may have trouble with their memory.

How is schizophrenia treated?

With consistent, customized treatment at Instic Health, you can manage your schizophrenia and continue to lead a positive, fulfilling life. Instic Health takes a holistic approach that includes medications, self-help strategies, and psychotherapy.

Most people with schizophrenia need to take antipsychotic medications. These drugs manage some of the most challenging symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thoughts and behaviors.

Antipsychotics don’t provide as much help for negative symptoms. You can manage negative symptoms with different types of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.

Combining medication with therapy often achieves the best long-term results and lowers your risk of relapses or needing hospitalization.

The team at Instic Health also helps you identify self-care goals that allow you to better manage schizophrenia while also supporting your overall health. This could include setting life goals, a plan to recover from substance or alcohol abuse, ways to manage your stress, and finding support in the community.

If you struggle with any of the symptoms caused by schizophrenia, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call Instic Health, or use the online booking feature today.