Esquizofrenia: O Que o Médico Não Psiquiatra Precisa de Saber

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a disabling and severe mental illness that affects all social classes and racial and ethnic groups, spreading across every part of the world. It’s more frequent in males and it usually manifests itself in late adolescence or early adulthood and its early detection by all clinicians is important so that there is a proper referral to specialized psychiatric care. This article intends to update the knowledge regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of schizophrenia, with an emphasis on the warning signs for a timely referral to psychiatric evaluation. We conducted a literature search across through articles available in databases of scientific articles but also in scientific and technical books specialized in the field of schizophrenia. The clinical presentation of this illness is heterogeneous and complex, with a typical evolution based on several episodes of acute decompensation requiring hospitalization. The diagnosis of schizophrenia relies on some key symptoms, and the various international diagnostic criteria vary in relation to the temporal window with productive symptomatology required to establish a diagnosis. The prognosis is variable, not always deteriorating and is all the better when the treatment is started as early as possible. Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach and is based primarily on antipsychotic drugs. This medication although very effective for the typical symptoms of this illness, entails some adverse effects with medical consequences that are important in the clinical practice of all doctors of other specialties.

Brief ICF Core Set for Schizophrenia: Development of Criteria for Assessing the Degree of Disability

“…The level of functioning is markedly below the level previously achieved, in areas such as interpersonal relationships, work, or self-care, for a considerable period of time [1]. Cognitive and affective symptoms that worsen functional impairment are also common [2].…”

“…Negative symptoms were pointed out in a systematic review of the literature as persistent predictors of worse functioning when compared to positive symptoms [18]. It is also known that each relapse further worsens the previous functional level [2]. Another systematic review of the literature found that functional impairment in schizophrenia is not only related to mental functions, but is also due to activity and participation domains [15], so it is important to assess factors related to these domains as well.…”

Affectivity in schizophrenia: Its relations with functioning, quality of life, and social support satisfaction

“…Schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of positive and negative symptoms. Cognitive and affective symptoms are also common (Queirós, Coelho, Linhares, & Telles‐Correia, 2019). Affective deficits are important, as they may influence other domains (Kring, & Elis, 2013).…”

Alergias Respiratórias E Influências Climáticas

“…Apresenta uma etiologia multifatorial, estando envolvidos fatores genéticos, bioquímicos, ambientais, entre outros, e pode causar alterações em funções importantes da vida de um indivíduo, como cognição, pensamento e comportamento. Ademais, é comum que antes dos 25 anos de idade e pode acometer todas as classes sociais(QUEIRÓS et al, 2019).…”