2023-08-16 09:09:41
Schizophrenia can begin at any age, although it rarely occurs before adolescence. There are gender differences in this regard: the symptoms in men appear earlier than in women.
PHOTO EFE/Julian Stratenschulte
The medical director of the López Ibor Clinic, Ignacio Basurtestresses to EFEsalud the gender differences in the appearance of schizophrenia, of which today is celebrated the international day. Also of the importance of recognizing and treating it in its earliest stages and how to approach it.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)schizophrenia affects some 24 million people in the world and is characterized by a notable deficiency in the way the person perceives reality as well as behavioral changes, such as the persistence of delusions or hallucinations, among others.
The symptoms
The first symptoms, known as “prodromal”, according to Basurte, precede the full manifestation of the disease and can “be subtle”.
“These symptoms can include slight changes in thinking, perception, and social interaction. There may be minor neurological signs, such as subtle changes in motor coordination or sensory perception,” he explains.
As schizophrenia progresses, these signs can evolve into other “more obvious” ones such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, decreased academic or work performance, social withdrawal, and self-care.
“Detecting and treating these symptoms in their early stages is crucial, since it can significantly influence the evolutionary course of the disease,” he insists.
Gender and genetic predisposition in schizophrenia
In general, the psychiatrist points out, there are gender differences in the manifestation of schizophrenia. Men tend to show symptoms in adolescence or early adulthood, while women may develop symptoms a bit later, in young adulthood or even middle age.
EFE/Purification Leon
At López Ibor, they treat patients from their first episodes, focusing especially on adolescents and young adults.
And there is a genetic predisposition to the disease, says Basurte.
“While it cannot be entirely attributed to genetics, having a first-degree relative with schizophrenia can increase your risk. Studies indicate that the heritability of schizophrenia can be as high as between 60% and 80%”, stresses the psychiatrist.
Which means, he clarifies, that “the vast majority” of the variability in the risk of developing schizophrenia in the population can be attributed to genetic factors.
Therefore, the expert emphasizes the “critical” importance of genetics in this disease and “the imperative” to continue research in this area.
But in addition to genetic predisposition, there are environmental factors that can contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia.
“These include complications during birth, prenatal infections, drug use during adolescence, among others. It is crucial to understand that having genes associated with schizophrenia does not guarantee that someone will develop the disease. The environment, development and other factors also play a fundamental role”, asserts Basurte.
The intervention
The approach to childhood disease “is multidisciplinary” and combines medical and psychological interventions and educational support.
During adolescence, hormonal changes can complicate the clinical picture, but it is also a crucial time for intervention.
“At the López Ibor Clinic we have observed in many cases, a debut of dual pathology, associated with the consumption of substances such as cannabis, which requires a specialized approach,” says the psychiatrist.
And there are innovative treatments, with antipsychotics as the “cornerstone” of treatment.
EFE/RAYNER PEÑA R
Recent scientific advances in the field of schizophrenia have provided new perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, according to the Lopez Ibor Clinic.
In fact, a multicenter study, led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in the United States, has discovered that two previously unknown genes may be linked in schizophrenia. Findings that could contribute to early detection and the development of personalized therapies.
More research
But there is also research on the neurological bases and the relationship with this disease. The aim is to identify alterations in certain brain regions and neurotransmitter systems, so that the way can be paved for the development of more precise therapies.
Likewise, there is research on the two-way communication between the gut microbiota and psychiatric and neurological disorders. So much so that gut health plays “an important role” in the development of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
The stigma
The WHO recalls that people suffering from schizophrenia have twice as likely to die prematurely than the rest of the population. And it usually occurs due to physical diseases (cardiovascular, metabolic or infectious).
In addition, these people often, according to the WHO, see their human rights violated, both within mental health institutions and in community settings, since the stigma of these patients is “intense and widespread.”
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