Does CBD help in treating schizophrenia?
Mental illness is never a simple matter, not only for the patient but also for their closest surroundings. A person suffering from schizophrenia may have difficulty recognizing reality, which is why delusions and hallucinations are typical symptoms. In fact, this mental disorder is somewhat more complex than was long assumed. Over the past decades, experts have tried countless treatment methods, some of which are accompanied by strong side effects. Research suggests that CBD may help in treating mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness in which the affected individual abnormally interprets reality. Moreover, significant problems with cognitive functions, emotion perception, and distorted perception of reality are recorded. In most cases, the illness involves alternating between two periods - emotional numbness and stupor, i.e., rigidity. The World Health Organization, or WHO, stated that more than 26.3 million people suffer from this disease. Around 30,000 patients die each year, with half of them in Southeast Asia. Schizophrenia affects both genders roughly equally, most often during early adulthood. Because a cure that would completely eliminate the disease has not yet been discovered, it is a lifelong problem.
Disease Symptoms
Many myths circulate around schizophrenia, such as the idea that the patient is split and temporarily becomes someone else; however, these symptoms are typical of other mental illnesses. The vast majority of individuals with this disorder are neither violent nor dangerous to society. Disease symptoms are divided into 3 basic types in professional circles - positive, negative, and cognitive. The meaning of the words "positive" and "negative" in this case do not have the meaning you might expect. Let's take a closer look at the individual symptom types.
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Positive symptoms - manifested by disrupted mental activity. Typical manifestations are delirium states, involving false beliefs and behavioral changes. It is often accompanied by paranoia or auditory, visual, olfactory, tactile, or gustatory hallucinations. Patients often hear voices in this phase. Delusions are also characteristic, where the affected may feel that someone has harmed them, or are convinced they have an exceptional talent or believe in an imminent catastrophe. Positive symptoms are accompanied by depression, anxiety states, and excessive physical activity.
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Negative symptoms - in this type of symptoms, there is rather a suppression of verbal communication, planning, physical activity, perception of positive emotions, and general interest. All described symptoms can negatively affect social bonds. Sometimes there is a loss of interest in any activities associated with a person's daily life, such as personal hygiene. In rare cases, the affected person may get into an unnatural rigid position, in which they can remain motionless for tens of minutes.
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Cognitive symptoms - symptoms including disorganized and slowed thinking, concentration problems, impaired memory, poor expression, groundless agitation, or behavior at the level of a small child. When cognitive symptoms are manifested, the surroundings of the affected suffer the least, but on the other hand, it discredits the patient, especially in the work area.