Mr. Li, 26 years old, believed two months ago that his former company boss and colleagues had hired someone to track him and kill him. Since then, his suspicions have intensified, thinking that strangers are all watching him, and any unfamiliar car parked on the roadside is somehow related to him, all plotting against him. He even believed that people playing with their phones nearby were taking photos of him and wanted to report it. He claimed that someone was following him, plotting against him, and even his wife and parents didn’t believe him, feeling that his family was deceiving him and conspiring against him with ill intentions. He couldn’t sleep at night, always hearing voices speaking ill of him, conspiring to harm him. Mr. Li exhibited extreme nervousness, fear, and paranoia.
His family brought him to the Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province (provincial psychiatric hospital) for treatment. After examinations by the adult psychiatric department, led by Dr. Li Xinchun, and neurological tests, no apparent abnormalities were found. Following further tests ruling out organic diseases, a diagnosis of schizophrenia was considered, and he was admitted to the male psychiatric ward for treatment.
Dr. Li Xinchun explained that the causes of schizophrenia are not yet clear, with genetics playing a significant role and psychosocial factors triggering the condition. The onset of the disease is often in young adults, with diverse clinical symptoms including incoherent thoughts, emotions, and behaviors detached from reality, and the course of the illness is often prolonged.
Treatment for schizophrenia emphasizes early, adequate, and sufficient duration of antipsychotic medication until the patient’s clinical symptoms stabilize and partial insight is restored, followed by adjunctive psychological therapies (such as behavioral therapy, family therapy, etc.) to achieve comprehensive social rehabilitation.
Having a mental illness is neither shameful nor frightening. Early detection and treatment are crucial, along with proper family care. So, what should family members pay attention to after the patient is discharged?
1. Strengthen medication supervision, strictly follow medical instructions to ensure the patient takes medication properly, prevent spitting, hiding, or self-reduction of drugs, monitor for side effects such as muscle tension, restlessness, constipation, and regularly check blood routine, liver function, ECG, etc.
2. Provide psychological support, listen patiently without blaming or criticizing, communicate in a companionable and equal manner to understand the patient’s psychological state.
3. Encourage the restoration of social functioning, urging the patient to engage in activities within their capabilities, avoid excessive protection or doing everything for them, and cultivate interests and hobbies.
4. Offer a quiet sleeping environment, reduce daytime sleep, maintain a balanced diet, guide appropriate physical activity.
Special contributor from Hunan Medical Chat: Liu Zhiying, Li Xinchun from the Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province (provincial psychiatric hospital)
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(Editor: YH)
