Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe biological illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Although Schizophrenia is not as common as other mental health disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling, which lead people with Schizophrenia to appear as if they have lost touch with reality.

Schizophrenia symptoms typically start when someone is between the ages of 16 and 30. In very rare cases, children could also have Schizophrenia. The factors that contribute to individuals developing Schizophrenia include genetics, brain chemistry and structure.

 

There are three categories of symptoms of schizophrenia: positive, negative, and cognitive.

  • “Positive” symptoms are added psychotic behaviors not generally seen in healthy people. People with positive symptoms may “lose touch” with some aspects of reality and experience hallucinations, delusions, or disordered movements.

  • “Negative” symptoms are disruptions to emotions and behaviors such as reduced expression of emotions, reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life, difficulty beginning and sustaining activities, and reduced speaking.

For some patients, the cognitive symptoms of Schizophrenia are subtle, but for others, they are more severe, and individuals may notice changes in their memory or other aspects of thinking. Symptoms include difficulty understanding information or using it to make decisions, trouble focusing, and problems with memory.

Treatment for Schizophrenia primarily focuses on minimizing the symptoms of the disease, and could include medication management, and psychosocial treatment where clients learn coping skills to address every day challenges and help them achieve their life goals like attending school or working. At Comprehensive Healthcare, we offer those treatment options as well as Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC). CSC is the integration of medication, therapies, case management, family involvement, and student or employee services. Care teams work together to help our clients with Schizophrenia lead productive, independent lives.

To speak with someone about Schizophrenia or treatment, simply contact us at any one of our locations nearest you. 

Services are provided in the following locations:

Ellensburg
707 N. Pearl Street Ste E
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 925-7507

707 N. Pearl Street Ste K
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 925-9861

Goldendale
112 West Main Street
Goldendale, WA 98620
(509) 773-5801

Pasco
2715 Saint Andrews Loop, Ste C
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 412-1051

Sunnyside
1319 Saul Road
Sunnyside, WA 98944
(509) 837-2089 Ext 2700

Walla Walla
1520 Kelly Place
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 522-4000

White Salmon
432 N.E. Tohomish Street
White Salmon, WA 98672
(509) 493-3400

Yakima
402 S. 4th Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
(509) 575-4084