How do drugs affect paranoid schizophrenia?
It is still being discussed in the scientific community whether the use of drugs alone can lead to the development of schizophrenia. A connection is suspected here above all with the use of cannabis, LSD, cocaine or amphetamines. However, it is not clear to what extent these drugs act as triggers or merely worsen or accelerate the course of the disease. Especially persons with a genetic predisposition for this disease are probably susceptible to such a course.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of schizophrenia can be extremely complicated due to the very diverse range of symptoms. This is especially true in the early stages, as the leading symptoms, such as hallucinations, are usually not yet or only very mildly pronounced. In order to diagnose schizophrenia, however, the presence of an ego disorder must always be proven.
Especially in paranoid schizophrenia, delusions and perceptions and/or hallucinations are further obligatory symptoms. A flattening of the emotions is rarely observed in this subform of schizophrenia. Furthermore, the described symptoms must last for more than one month. Thus, the diagnosis of schizophrenia is usually clinical in nature and is based on a detailed medical history. However, in order to rule out possible other diseases that present with a similar spectrum of symptoms, imaging and a detailed neurological examination are usually performed.
What tests for paranoid schizophrenia are available?
There is no specific test that can uniquely diagnose schizophrenia. Rather, there are numerous psychological tests that can quantify symptoms of schizophrenia, such as cognitive performance or recognition of symbols. In the context of faulty perception and thought disorders in schizophrenia, the tests usually reveal significant limitations.
The “Eppendorf Schizophrenia Inventory” is a very comprehensive test that covers many aspects of the cognitive impairment caused by schizophrenia. Although abnormalities can provide clear indications of the presence of the disease, they are not conclusive. In addition to these standardized psychological tests, numerous other tests are offered on the Internet. Since these usually do not meet scientific criteria, the results of these tests should be viewed very critically.
