Jennifer Lopez -Researcher

Semaj Kennedy -Researcher

Lesly Corona- Researcher

Chris Romero- Team Writer

Leslie Hernandez: Team Leader

Hallucinations, particularly auditory ones, add another layer of complexity. Voices, unheard by others, echo in their minds, intensifying the sense of a world fraught with unseen threats. The struggle to distinguish between what is real and what is a product of their imagination can be overwhelming, contributing to a constant state of anxiety and hypervigilance.

Social interactions become a minefield, with the fear of betrayal or harm lurking in the background. This often results in withdrawal from relationships and a challenge in forming meaningful connections. The disorganized thought patterns characteristic of paranoid schizophrenia make it difficult to communicate coherently, and concentration becomes a fleeting luxury.

The impact extends beyond personal relationships to academic pursuits. The college environment, demanding focus and social engagement, can amplify the challenges. Routine tasks become Herculean endeavors, as the mind wrestles with internal narratives that diverge from the shared reality.

Treatment, involving a delicate balance of antipsychotic medications, therapy, and support services, is vital. However, the stigma surrounding mental health issues can hinder seeking help, perpetuating a cycle of isolation.

In conclusion, the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia create a complex landscape for individuals, affecting not only their personal lives but also their academic endeavors. Understanding, empathy, and early intervention are crucial elements in navigating this intricate terrain and fostering a supportive environment for those grappling with this condition.

Typical Antipsychotics

(also known as First-Generation)

• Mechanism: Primarily block dopamine D2 receptors to reduce symptoms.

• Side Effects: Known to cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) like tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, parkinsonism, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

• Examples: Haloperidol, chlorpromazine.

• Considerations: Often used when newer antipsychotics are not effective or for cost considerations; requires close monitoring for neurological side effects.

Atypical Antipsychotics

(Also known as Second-Generation)

• Mechanism: Target a range of neurotransmitter receptors, including dopamine and serotonin, to potentially reduce certain neurological side effects.

• Side Effects: Less likely to cause EPS, but may lead to weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and sedation; some have a lower risk of tardive dyskinesia.

• Examples: Clozapine (effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia), risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine.

• Considerations: Generally preferred due to a more favorable side effect profile, especially for long-term treatment; requires monitoring for metabolic effects.

Efficacy and Treatment Considerations

• Symptom Targeting: Both classes address positive schizophrenia symptoms, but atypicals may also help with negative symptoms.

• Compliance and Tolerability: Atypicals often lead to better long-term compliance due to tolerability.

• Specific Populations: Clozapine is often used for treatment-resistant cases; elderly patients need careful monitoring due to increased sensitivity to side effects.

• Economic Factors: Typical antipsychotics are less expensive and more widely available.

The choice between typical and atypical antipsychotics for paranoid schizophrenia is based on balancing efficacy, side effects, patient preferences, and factors like cost and accessibility. Decisions are made collaboratively between the patient and their healthcare provider, considering these diverse aspects.

It all starts with the mind; this disorder causes individuals to be afraid and not to trust anyone.

They can see one trying to help them but mistake them trying to harm them.

-       There are situations where people attempt to aid the individual but the mind is altered in a way that makes the patient think they are trying to cause harm.

They live with hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, lack of motivation amongst other factors. It can also cause other things like depression and anxiety.

-       These individuals live their daily lives having to deal with hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, lack of motivation, and a multitude other factor. These patients can develop this disorder to the point where it can also cause depression and anxiety.

Paranoid schizophrenia does not have any cures or treatment that will get rid of schizophrenia. Research conducted by experts in the field suggest some of the causes of paranoid schizophrenia are; genetics, differences in brain structure/development, overactive neurotransmitters, pregnancy, childhood trauma. Furthermore there are also cases of schizophrenia where the disorder was caused by a trigger like stress or drug abuse. For reasons like those stated, treatment for every schizophrenia patient differs from medications to describe and various types of therapy. Therapy is specific to every person however there are two types of medication that can be prescribed such as first and second generation antipsychotic medications:

First-Generation: Medicines that fall in this category are antipsychotics that affect the dopamine receptors decreasing the amount of dopamine received. Some of the first-generation psychotics (also known as typical antipsychotics) that are associated with schizophrenia are;

• Haloperidol (Haldol)- Treats hallucinations, delusions, cognitive trouble, lack of

motivation, communication problems, and lack of desire to be around other people.   

Common Side Effects - irregular heartbeat, constipation, drowsy or dizziness, blurred vision, dryness of mouth and sudden drops in blood pressure

Rare Side Effects - females have a possibility of losing their period and breast milk production and males have the possibility of losing their sex, drive and developing erectile dysfunction, possibility of developing extrapyramidal symptoms and tar dive dyskinesia, sudden cardiac arrest and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)- Treats Hallucinations

Common Side Effects- anticholinergic effects, sedation, weight gain, erectile

dysfunction, oligomenorrhea, cerebral edema, tachycardia, agitation, anxiety, depression, dizziness, insomnia and headaches

Rare Side Effects- Photosensitivity, Pruritus, galactorrea, diarrhea, blood dyscrasia,

ejactulatory disorder, seizures and priapism

• Perphenazine (Trilafon)- Treats hallucinations

Common Side Effects-anticholinergic effects, sedation, weight gain, erectile

dysfunction, oligomenorrhea, cerebral edema, tachycardia, agitation, anxiety, depression, dizziness, insomnia, headaches and orthostatic hypotension 

Rare Side Effects- Photosensitivity, Pruritus, galactorrea, diarrhea, blood dyscrasia,

ejactulatory disorder, seizures, priapism and cholestatic jaundice.

Second-Generation- The second-generation medicines (also known as atypical antipsychotics) were made due to the many and some severe side-effects of its predecessors with the intention of having less severe side effects with more effectiveness.. Much like the first-generation medicines the second-generation targets dopamine to reduce overactivity. However, they also target serotonin as well. Medicines in this category include:

• Risperidone (Risperdal)-Treats hallucinations, delusions, cognitive trouble, lack of

motivation, communication problems, and lack of desire to be around other people. 

Common Side Effects- Sedation, drowsiness, extrapyramidal symptoms, insomnia,

fatigue, headache, anxiety, dizziness, drooling, restlessness, increased prolactin, weight gain, Increased appetite, vomiting, constipation, upper abdominal pain, nausea, urinary incontinence, tremor, cold symptoms, cough, runny nose, fever

Rare Side Effects-Females have a possibility of losing their period and breast milk

production and males have the possibility of losing their sex drive and developing erectile dysfunction, possibility of developing extrapyramidal symptoms and tar dive dyskinesia, sudden cardiac arrest and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and body temperature regulation trouble. 

• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)-Treats hallucinations, delusions, cognitive trouble, lack of

motivation, communication problems, and lack of desire to be around other people. 

Common Side Effects- Low blood pressure, drowsiness, extrapyramidal symptoms,

restlessness, dizziness, headache, fatigue, insomnia, increased prolactin, weight gain, increased appetite, dry mouth, indigestion, constipation, liver function test abnormalities, weakness, accidental injury

Rare Side Effects-Females have a possibility of losing their period and breast milk

production and males have the possibility of losing their sex drive and developing erectile dysfunction, possibility of developing extrapyramidal symptoms and tar dive dyskinesia, cardiac arrest and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and body temperature regulation trouble and multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions

• Quetiapine (Seroquel)-Treats hallucinations, delusions, cognitive trouble, lack of

motivation, communication problems, and lack of desire to be around other people.

Common Side Effects-Increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, drowsiness, headache, agitation, dizziness, fatigue, extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, cholesterol abnormalities, increased glucose, dry mouth, increased appetite, constipation

Rare Side Effects- Females have a possibility of losing their period and breast milk

production and males have the possibility of losing their sex drive and developing erectile dysfunction, possibility of developing extrapyramidal symptoms and tar dive dyskinesia, sudden cardiac arrest and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, high blood sugar, and body temperature regulation trouble. 

• Aripiprazole (Abilify)-Treats hallucinations, delusions, cognitive trouble, lack of

motivation, communication problems, and lack of desire to be around other people. 

Common Side Effects-Headache, extrapyramidal symptoms, drowsiness, restlessness,

fatigue, sedation, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, cholesterol abnormalities, increased glucose, nausea, vomiting, constipation, application site rash, tremors

Rare Side Effects-Females have a possibility of losing their period and breast milk

production and males have the possibility of losing their sex drive and developing erectile dysfunction, possibility of developing extrapyramidal symptoms and tar dive dyskinesia, sudden cardiac arrest and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, high blood sugar, and body temperature regulation trouble and the irresistible urge to gamble, binge eat, shop and have sex.

• Clozapine (Clozaril) -Treats hallucinations, delusions, cognitive trouble, lack of

motivation, communication problems, and lack of desire to be around other people. 

Common Side Effects- Increased heart rate, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, drowsiness, sedation, dizziness, headache, insomnia, vertigo, increased salivation, sweating, visual disturbance, weight gain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, fever

 Rare Side Effects- Females have a possibility of losing their period and breast milk

production and males have the possibility of losing their sex drive and developing erectile dysfunction, possibility of developing extrapyramidal symptoms and tar dive dyskinesia, sudden cardiac arrest and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, high blood sugar, body temperature regulation trouble and life-threatening hepatotoxicity. 

Schizophrenia makes widespread changes in brain structure and function. Involving many regions and neural circuits. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making and planning and when abnormalities show up in this region they contribute to cognitive and impaired processes. Hippocampus involved in memory formation. Structural changes are reduced in hippocampal. Amygdala is responsible for processing emotions and emotional responses when it is disrupted it has an inappropriate affect and emotional blunting. Neurochemical factors can cause imbalances in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate. Dopamine overactivity of dopamine transmission in certain brain areas contribute to psychotic symptoms. Many other factors such as environmental factors, someone who suffers from high levels of stress,trauma, or life changing events during their childhood contributes to the onset of schizophrenia. It can also be genetic of a family history of schizophrenia; the genetic factors contribute an increase to this disorder. 

Common Features:

• Delusions

• Emotional Disturbances

• Impaired Daily Functions