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Schizophrenia is one of the dangerous and terrifying diagnoses that a person can face. In their practice, psychiatrists successfully use special tests to identify the diagnosis and examine the disease. Certain types of testing are designed to identify early signs disorders. There are also those that allow us to determine the level of development of pathology.
Experts suggest conducting a test for predisposition to schizophrenia in anonymous conditions. This increases the number of truthful answers and the quality of the final results - after all, a gloomy possible outcome and a terrifying diagnosis do not loom over the individual.
Tests for schizophrenia help identify the disease by early stages
Testing alone is not enough for doctors to identify and diagnose a person with a schizophrenic disorder. The verdict comes only after complete comprehensive survey person, which includes the assessment clinical symptoms And normal functioning parts of the brain.
The test for susceptibility to schizophrenia is primarily recommended for persons whose parents are prone to various forms of neuroses and psychoses. First of all, tests reveal the level of predisposition to the disorder.
If the test person receives positive results, he needs to contact a highly qualified psychiatrist. Schizophrenia, identified at an early stage, helps to take timely measures to stop the manifestations of the disorder and protect the patient from the progression of a dangerous disease.
When deciding to get tested, a person should know that even a positive self-diagnosis does not give an accurate answer. Although schizophrenia has already been studied quite well, leading experts still have difficulty making an accurate diagnosis. This happens for the following reasons:
A test to determine schizophrenia is only a method to better understand yourself and pay attention to your own health. A doctor will never make a diagnosis of schizophrenia based on the positive results of even the most highly accurate and proven clinical test.
Hermann Rorschach is a renowned psychotherapist working in Switzerland. He entered the history of psychiatry with his individually designed personality testing for mental disorders. Later, the tests he created began to be successfully used to determine mental disorders human consciousness. The most famous test is called “Rorschach Blots”.
Rorschach blots are a collection of cards. Most often it includes ten pictures in the form of ink blots. A certain blot, when examined and analyzed by a patient, evokes individual associations. A doctor, analyzing a person’s test for schizophrenia using pictures, identifies the level of impairment of consciousness and psyche.
The doctor, analyzing the test, relies on those associations (with objects, objects, processes) that cause blots in the test person. For example, when examining a picture, the subject sees:
The test taker should describe his feelings about each picture in as much detail as possible. There are ten blots in total. The uniqueness of the Rorschach test is that these blots are black and white and do not resemble any recognizable image. Therefore, this test makes it possible to judge existing pathological images.
Pass the psychological test schizophrenia can also be diagnosed using original color perception. This method was developed in the middle of the last century by the Swiss psychotherapist Max Luscher. More than a century of its use has shown and proven a clearly traceable connection between the existing psycho-emotional background of the individual and color perception.
The founder of the test, Max Luscher, created it to assess and identify the level of communication abilities, predisposition to stress and the presence of depression in the person being tested.
For analysis mental state test subject Luscher used color perception. The test consists of several cards, each of which is colored a certain color. When conducting a personality test, you are asked to choose the most attractive colored card each time.
In the course of his many years of practice and activity, Max Lüscher made important conclusion: for each person, color perception is universal, and emotional perception is a purely individual matter. That is, color perception can change under the influence of any factors.
Over many years of successful use of the Luscher test, psychotherapists have developed two types of test based on it, which make it possible to more accurately determine the degree of psycho-emotional disorder:
But questionable analysis and even positive is not enough to diagnose schizophrenia. To make sure that a person is suffering from a mental disorder, after tests are carried out, he is prescribed a series of in-depth medical studies.
Another interesting test for schizophrenics is widely known in medical circles - the Chaplin test. This test was first introduced into use by psychiatrists by Richard Gregory, a famous scientist and professor of neuropsychology. The scientist, studying the difference between the existing reality in healthy and sick individuals, came to the conclusion that a person’s perception depends on thinking, which is based on existing experience.
The more knowledge a certain person has about a situation, the less often his self-awareness requires processing and accepting fresh information.
Testing is based on optical illusion. The subject is asked to look at the rotating face of the legendary comedian for 2-3 minutes. And then tell me if there is anything strange in Chaplin’s moving appearance. Look:
If a person is healthy. A mentally adequate person, when faced with some new information, uses existing experience to process it. A healthy person experiences optical illusions when his already ingrained knowledge and experience about a certain subject does not correspond to the situation.
To people who do not have a schizophrenic disorder, the face will appear convex and on the wrong side.
Initially, a person perceives an ordinary three-dimensional Chaplin mask. When the face turns visual system a healthy person cannot perceive inner part masks are empty. Adequate people see another three-dimensional face there. This happens due to the following nuances:
If a person is sick. One of the main symptoms of schizophrenia is a failure of all cognitive functions. Schizophrenics cannot perceive any optical illusions. A person suffering from schizophrenia will not find anything strange in a rotating mask. For a sick person, Chaplin's appearance will remain concave.
The reasons why individuals with schizophrenic disorder are unable to perceive optical illusions are not yet fully understood. There is a theory that such non-perception depends on the special manner in which sick people process visual information.
If you can't see the 3D pinkish face on the back of the mask, rush to the doctors. But don't despair! Optical illusions are also not perceived by people under the influence of drugs, alcohol or severe stress.
A special feature of this test is its high accuracy in determining possible schizophrenia. The world's leading psychiatrists have long studied the reaction of eyeball movement in people suffering from various mental disorders.
The result of many years of research was eye method verification of schizophrenia. The test was created by scientists from Scotland, Philip Benson and David Clare, for a long time observing the behavior of patients. With schizophrenic syndrome, the patient is characterized by:
The final conclusion on whether a person has a schizophrenic disorder is given based on the results of a combination of the following stages:
Eye tests with 97-98% reliability can detect the presence of schizophrenia in the early stages. The reliability of the method was confirmed by scientific research by scientists at the University of Aberdeen.
Various pictures and objects (moving and stationary) are alternately placed in front of the subject. The patient's task is to continuously monitor objects.
Due to its characteristics and specific disorders, occurring in the brain, it is difficult for a patient with schizophrenia to concentrate his gaze and focus it correctly.
The basis for the disruption of the normal mobility of the eyeballs in a schizophrenic is a failure in the conductivity of neurons running through the centers of the brain halves. Also, during the disease, adequate interaction between peripheral receptors (including optic nerve) and the cerebral subcortex.
Warning symptoms are:
The ocular method of detecting schizophrenia is currently considered only a method early diagnosis pathology. But scientists plan to develop and improve testing that will allow us to determine not only the presence of the disease, but also which way the disease will develop.
In schizophrenics, difficulties with adequate visual fixation are expressed in different ways. In order to more accurately evaluate the test results, experts developed separate tables of compatibility between eye movements and established nosological norms.
Many leading experts are involved in improving and improving the eye test:
A test for determining schizophrenia, based on observation of the movements of the eye pupils, is now used only in a few leading psychiatric clinics in Europe. This method is still at the testing stage. Only after the test has been thoroughly worked out is it assessed practical conditions, it can be recommended for use in mass practice.
The psychiatric term “schizophrenia” and its derivatives - “schizophrenic”, “schizo”, “schizoid” - can often be heard in everyday life among ordinary people who are inexperienced in mental disorders and use it as a curse or a label.
What is schizophrenia really, what forms does it have, who is at risk of becoming schizophrenic, and how is such a serious condition correctly diagnosed and treated? mental disorder?
And also, you can take a test for schizophrenia online and for free, both for yourself and for another person.
Schizophrenia is literally a “split mind”—an internally caused (endogenous) psychotic disorder that manifests itself in the breakdown of thinking, perception and emotional reactions.
6 people out of 1000 have the risk of becoming schizophrenic, both in childhood, adolescence and youth, and in adulthood.
Main symptoms and signs of schizophrenia:
The main causes of schizophrenia:
Risk groups and factors:
Eat various shapes schizophrenia and schizotypal disorders, not counting the schizoid character - let's look at it in more detail...
Mental illnesses in Russia are considered according to ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision - classes F00-F99“Mental disorders and behavioral disorders”), used in Russia, the CIS and Europe (not everywhere).
The USA has its own classification of mental illness - according to DSM-5 ( D iagnostic and S tatitical M anual of mental disorders, fifth edition - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition), developed by the American Psychiatric Association.
To make an accurate diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary differential diagnosis, because many symptoms and signs of schizophrenia are often similar to other mental, personality, psychosomatic and somatic disorders.
Only a psychiatrist, medical psychotherapist or clinical psychologist has the right to diagnose schizophrenia, after listening to the patient’s complaints, interviewing relatives and friends, and observation.
Also, for differentiation from other diseases, with similar symptoms, must be carried out, along with psychiatric, and medical examination(blood, kidney and liver tests, thyroid gland, urine analysis, pregnancy and testing for narcotic and psychotropic substances).
Diagnosis of schizophrenia based on the symptoms and signs outlined above implies one or two symptoms over a long period of time (usually at least a month).
The main treatment for schizophrenia is drug therapy (antipsychotics, antipsychotics).
Together with psychiatric pharmacological treatment They use psychotherapy - cognitive behavioral therapy, relationship psychotherapy, transactional analysis, etc.
Prognosis for recovery
With long-term, more than 20 years, studies and observations of the treatment of patients with schizophrenia in different countries, it was found that more than 50% can fully recover, and an even larger number can get rid of the symptoms of schizophrenia and improve their condition to an adequate and functional state (with normal treatment- both medicinally and psychotherapeutically for a long time).
You should understand that there is mental disorder- schizophrenia, but there is personality disorders- schizotypal disorder and schizoid.
Also, there is personality psychotype- schizoid (or schizoid accentuation of character), which is not a mental or personality disorder.
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and diseases are dealt with by psychiatrists, medical psychotherapists and clinical psychologists - this is “big psychiatry”
Psychological psychotherapists can also deal with schizotypal or schizoid personality disorder - this is “minor psychiatry”.
Schizoid character accentuation (psychotype) can, under certain conditions, develop into a disease - schizophrenia.
To prevent this from happening, a preventive consultation with a psychotherapist or psychoanalyst is necessary.
Pass online test, for yourself or for another, and find out from your symptoms whether you have signs of schizophrenia, schizotypal or schizoid disorder.
Are you schizophrenic or not?— take a test for schizophrenia online
If you are at risk (see above), then in order to avoid becoming a schizophrenic, you should protect yourself by taking preventive measures.
Most the best option- this is to consult and, if necessary, undergo prophylactic, preventive psychotherapy (this is not treatment, but rather training...)
Preventive psychotherapy for schizophrenia is the removal or leveling of risk factors for the disease, especially internal, personal emotional and psychological problems, and training preventive methods and technicians.
Psychological therapy for schizophrenia or schizotypal, schizoid personality disorder is carried out in conjunction with drug therapy or after the last one.
If you suspect schizophrenia, its symptoms and signs, or you have a schizotypal disorder or schizoid accentuation, then undergo a psychoanalytic examination,
We present an interesting video illusion, which, according to some experts (and amateurs), is also the most simple test on predisposition to schizophrenia.
What do you see - a mask alternately rotating clockwise and counterclockwise, or does it always rotate in one direction for you?
The correct answer is that the mask rotates in one direction (there are no computer splices here - it really just rotates around its axis). However, for most, at some point the mask changes direction. Why?
So, in the video we see a rotating mask, and if its convex (front) side does not raise questions either in the consciousness or the subconscious, then the concave (wrong) side, as a rule, is perceived inadequately by the brain. We are not used to seeing faces concave, so literally after a moment the brain adapts - in our perception, the mask begins to rotate in the other direction, and the face becomes “normal”. When the mask reaches again front side, the brain “turns” it again. And then again and again, back and forth. Although in fact, all this time the mask is quietly rotating in one direction, and only when it is located sideways to us and “changes” direction, we understand that the brain is playing with us.
It is believed that those who are currently in a state of alcohol and drug intoxication, as well as those who are potentially predisposed to schizophrenia, will not see the magical “inversion” and will calmly continue to look at the concave part. So if you're reading this description and don't understand how others see the two masks here, you might have something to think about.
In any case, we do not recommend using the results of this test as a real medical diagnosis. For all questions regarding its scientific nature, as well as when suspicions arise regarding one’s mental, physical or emotional state, it is better to contact specialists.
In conclusion, we note that initially this illusion (or, if you prefer, this test) was called “Chaplin’s Mask” (see photo), and the subjects were actually shown the mask of the great actor and director.
It is believed that a person diagnosed with schizophrenia has mental disorders that accompany him throughout his life. However, this is not quite true. If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage of development and all necessary measures on treatment of this disease, then there is a possibility that a person will live a normal, full life.
There is an established opinion in society that it is impossible to recover from schizophrenia and that it is a stamp for life. In fact, you shouldn't be so skeptical about this diagnosis. So is schizophrenia curable? To answer the question, it is recommended to look at this diagnosis from a different angle. Namely, treat this disease like any other chronic illness. As an example, consider a disease such as diabetes. Humanity has not come up with a way to get rid of it, but there are certain rules, following which, a person can lead a normal life and keep his body in good shape. So is schizophrenia treatable or not? When answering this question, it is necessary to take into account that if you learn to follow certain rules, then it will become possible to exercise control over your condition.
Each person is individual, and schizophrenia has its own characteristics. U different people they can manifest themselves in different ways. There are statistics that one in five people with schizophrenia gets better after five years. At this stage, you should understand what improvement means and whether schizophrenia is treatable. Let's figure it out now.
First, it should be understood that improvement is a long-term process in a disease such as schizophrenia. Psychiatry identifies several aspects of this condition. Secondly, you need to know that recovery process implies a person’s desire to constantly work and achieve his goals. During this period, the patient will experience both normalization of the condition and exacerbation of the disease. An important point is the support of loved ones who can provide the help you need at the moment when it is necessary for a person diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Psychiatry says that improving the condition of a person who is sick with this disease means minimizing the symptoms of the disease and preventing attacks. It is also necessary to establish a normal perception of reality for the patient, thanks to which he will be able to lead a normal life.
And women are usually the same. But there are also differences. They lie in the fact that the symptoms of schizophrenia in men are more aggressive and frightening. They need the attention and understanding of loved ones.
They have a softer character. Hallucinations occur. An interesting fact is that this disease can be triggered by childbirth. When answering the question of whether schizophrenia is treated in women, it should be taken into account that it is hereditary disease. And it is treatable to the same extent as in men. But if we talk about whether schizophrenia can be treated in adolescents, then here important point is early diagnosis of the disease.
It's worth saying that modern medicine does not offer any specific methods by which a person can be cured of schizophrenia. But this disease is treatable. There are also ways to prevent attacks and exacerbations of the disease. If the patient has the right attitude and strives for recovery, then he has every chance of becoming a full-fledged member of society and leading a normal lifestyle, exercising labor activity And so on.
If a person is diagnosed with schizophrenia, this does not mean that he needs to constantly be in a hospital. With the correct and timely approach to treatment, the patient will be able to avoid crisis situations in which medical examination of the patient and keeping him under observation may be necessary. It should be remembered that in any situation there is hope for recovery. The main thing is not to be discouraged, but to take certain actions. Thanks to them, you can achieve the desired results.
There is a test for schizophrenia that you can take. Please note that this test is not a basis for making a diagnosis. It shows whether a person is predisposed to such a disease or not. The test for schizophrenia presents a set of questions. By answering them, a person gains a certain number of points. The developers of the test have determined the norm. It is believed that if a person has scored points and they do not exceed a certain amount, then he is not prone to schizophrenia. The test is psychological in nature.
The questions are quite simple, for example, “do your relatives irritate you” or “do you have obsessive thoughts” and so on. In addition to the test method, where you need to answer questions, there is an optical illusion test. It's called Chaplin's mask. It is assumed that healthy people can see Chaplin's bulbous face on both sides of the mask. And those who are prone to mental illness see the second side of the mask as concave. These methods do not have any medical accuracy.
First of all, it is necessary that the person is correctly diagnosed. The staging process requires enough long period time. Since the symptoms of this disease may overlap with other human mental disorders. Making a diagnosis requires time to monitor the patient. In addition, it is better if it is done by someone who has experience in treating such people.
Therefore, at the first suspicion of schizophrenia or a mental disorder, you should consult a doctor. This should be done. Since for effective treatment a correct diagnosis is necessary. And based on this, they will prescribe a treatment regimen for the disease. If the diagnosis is made accurately, then therapy will be effective.
There are cases when a person who does not realize this himself resists what he is told that he is not entirely healthy. But relatives who see mental abnormalities need to see a doctor. If a person himself notices this kind of problem in his body, then he is also recommended to seek medical help.
A sick person needs to know that treatment for schizophrenia requires integrated approach. This disease cannot be cured simply by taking medications. In addition, it is necessary to ensure communication with doctors, relatives, have psychological support loved ones. It is important not to drop out of society, but to continue communicating with people around you. You should also lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right. Under in a healthy way life means following a daily routine, walking, and exercising.
One more important factor What will ensure the recovery process in schizophrenia is that the patient is an active participant in the treatment. The patient needs to tune in to participate in this process, talk through his feelings from taking this or that drug, talk about his well-being and share his emotional mood with loved ones and the attending physician.
First of all, you should not fall into despair. If there are people around a person who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia who believe that this illness is incurable, then you should not communicate with them. It is better that those for whom this person remains a person, regardless of illness. You need to constantly maintain a relationship with your doctor. It is recommended to monitor the dosage medicines prescribed by the psychiatrist. If the patient has concerns that he has been prescribed too much high dose medications or, conversely, is too small, then you should definitely talk to your doctor. He needs to voice his concerns about this. You should also clarify what are possible side effects from taking this or that drug. It is important for the patient to be honest with himself and the psychiatrist. If the patient observes side effects, then you need to tell the doctor about this and change the treatment regimen or change the amount of the drug. The patient should be aware that dosage determination medical supplies- This collaboration doctor and patient. Therefore, you need to take an active part in it.
Also, a person diagnosed with schizophrenia should learn to use special therapy, which includes the ability to control the symptoms of this disease. Namely, if the patient has any obsessive thoughts or hears extraneous voices, then through special therapy he can switch and lead himself away from these conditions. The patient should also learn to motivate himself to do something.
For schizophrenics, setting and achieving goals is an important part of the recovery process. Under no circumstances should you give up society.
Those patients who receive support from relatives and other close people are very lucky. The participation of others in the treatment process is an important component of recovery. It has also been found that when the patient is surrounded by understanding and kindness, the occurrence of relapses is minimized.
A person who is ill is advised to talk with relatives and friends who, in his opinion, can help if attacks of schizophrenia occur. It is necessary to explain to them what type of help is expected from them. As a rule, when people ask for help, they are met. Especially when it comes to health. With support, it will be easier for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia to cope with the illness.
Another important factor that will contribute to recovery is work. For people with mental disorders it's better to work hard. If, of course, the state of health allows and there is no disability due to schizophrenia. Voluntary labor can be used. There are communities of people suffering from this disease. To avoid a lack of communication, it is recommended to join them. Visiting temples helps some people. You need to create a favorable environment around yourself. The same rule can be followed by healthy people. The difference is that a mentally healthy person can cope with stress or psychological discomfort. And it is better for a person with disabilities to avoid situations that could cause a relapse.
A favorable circumstance for the patient is living with a family. Love and understanding of loved ones are one of the main positive factors to cure schizophrenia. Under no circumstances should you drink alcohol or narcotic substances. Since they have a negative effect on the body of a sick person.
People diagnosed with schizophrenia are prescribed antipsychotic medications. It should be remembered that the treatment of this disease is complex. Therefore, taking medications is one of the components of therapy.
You also need to understand that the data medicines do not treat a person for a disease such as schizophrenia. Their action is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of this disease, such as hallucinations, delusions, obsessive thoughts, chaotic thinking, etc.
Taking these drugs will not ensure a person’s entry into society, setting any goals or motivating them to take certain actions.
Also, this type of drug has whole line accompanying manifestations:
If these manifestations interfere with normal life, you should consult a doctor and reduce the dose of drugs or change the treatment regimen.
It is not recommended to reduce the amount of medication on your own or switch to another drug. This can be harmful to health, cause relapse, etc. Therefore, a consultation with a psychiatrist is required.
The main task in the search the right medicine in schizophrenia is that it has the desired effect, and side effects were kept to a minimum. It should also be taken into account that a person takes such drugs for a long time, sometimes for life. Therefore, you need to be very careful when choosing. If necessary, change to another medicine.
The difficulty in choosing an antipsychotic drug is that it is unclear how it will affect the body and what side effects may occur. Therefore, the process of selecting a drug can be quite long and complex. You also need to select the right dosage for each specific patient.
As a rule, improvement in the patient’s condition after starting to take medications occurs after one and a half or two months. There are cases when a person feels better after a few days. When there is no positive dynamics even after two months, you need to either increase the dose or change the drug.
So is schizophrenia completely curable? Cannot be guaranteed 100%. But it is possible to remove its symptoms.
Currently, drugs prescribed for this disease can be divided into two groups. Namely, medicines of the old generation and the new. The first drugs include antipsychotics. And for new ones - atypical drugs.
Neuroleptics have been known for a long time; they eliminate hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, etc. But they have drawbacks. They can cause such unpleasant symptoms, How:
New generation products are called atypical antipsychotic drugs. IN last years they are used more often to treat this disease. This is due to the fact that from taking these funds side effects far less.
If you're looking for a test that can instantly detect schizophrenia, check out this amazing optical illusion. Test "Chaplin's Mask" was first proposed and described by British psychologist and professor of neuropsychology Richard Gregory in scientific work"Meaning and illusions of perception." By examining the difference between the perceptions of schizophrenics and healthy people, this neuropsychologist came to the conclusion that human perception directly depends on thinking processes based on past experience.
1:1473 1:1483The more knowledge a person has about a perceived situation, the less often he or she needs to process new information. If a person is mentally healthy, his past experience begins to play a leading role in perception.
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As is known, schizophrenia is accompanied by impaired cognitive processes, as a result of which patients suffering from schizophrenia are not susceptible to various visual illusions. Therefore, observing optical illusions helps to find out how adequately a person perceives the world around him.
1:552 1:562Instructions
1:593Take a close look at this rotating mask. How do you see her? Do you notice any strange things? Remember how you felt while watching.
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Interpretation
1:930So congratulations, you've just passed the test for schizophrenia!
1:1044 1:1054This test is interesting because it in this case distortion of reality and self-deception are signs healthy psyche. If Chaplin's mask seemed strange to you (convex on both sides), then you can be completely calm, you are absolutely mentally healthy man!
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We initially see Charlie Chaplin's face on outside masks. However, when the mask begins to rotate, our visual system does not want to perceive the inside of the mask as a "hollow" face, because the brain normal person misperceives shadows and light on the concave side of the mask. Downward flow of information(our idea of what shape a face should have) is in dissonance with rising(sensory signal). Descending knowledge always has an advantage in a mentally healthy person, so a face that is actually convex seems concave to us, and vice versa.
1:1112So it turns out that A healthy person taking this test sees a strange face, convex on both sides.
1:1310 1:1320The brain of a schizophrenic cannot be deceived by an optical illusion— for him the mask always remains concave. The reason why schizophrenics do not perceive optical illusions has not yet been fully elucidated. There is a hypothesis that this is due to a special way of processing visual information and recognizing visual images.
1:1909Therefore, if you just can’t see the pink convex mask rotating in reverse side, please consult a specialist.
1:273In any case, do not panic - it has been proven that this optical illusion also does not affect people who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, as well as for persons under severe stress.
1:661However, we should not forget that the diagnosis of this serious mental illness should not be limited to just one mask. To make an accurate diagnosis for a person who suspects he has schizophrenia, you need to see a psychiatrist as soon as possible.
Same test - different mask (“control shot”):
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Have you seen both sides of the mask convex?
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