Febrile or hypertoxic schizophrenia is an acute phase of a mental illness in which a person’s body temperature rises to 39-40 degrees Celsius. There is a malfunction in the work of the nervous system with an attack of catatonia, when a person freezes in one position (at this time he begins to have visions and hallucinations). Such signs may alternate with the normal state of the body, but usually hypertoxic schizophrenia progresses rapidly, and treatment should not be delayed.
What can cause febrile schizophrenia?
This type of mental disorder is transmitted genetically from parents, who, in turn, may have a laid down gene from one of their relatives. Not necessarily a genetic mutation of the nervous system will manifest itself in everyone who is predisposed to this from the family. A genetic disease is not subject to 100% recovery, but timely diagnosis and a properly prescribed course of treatment weaken the negative impact of the disease and contribute to a normal social life.
In the presence of the gene for febrile schizophrenia in the body, some external factors can contribute to its enhanced development:
– Taking narcotic drugs;
– A nervous breakdown or constant nervous exhaustion; – A breakdown in the background of low social status, poverty, constant problems with finances and in the family.
It is depression under the influence of taking drugs and alcohol that most often becomes a factor in the development of febrile schizophrenia.
How does this mental disorder manifest?
The so-called catatonia differs in its course in the body from ordinary schizophrenia. She does not have the usual split personality. In the period of acute exacerbation, against the background of high body temperature, seizures begin, manifested by stupor. At the moment of freezing, different pictures flash through the mind of a person. For example, about global catastrophes, space exploration, travel, flights. During these periods, the personality is completely lost and the person, as it were, ceases to exist in his mind. Therefore, trying to “wake him up” is not rational – this can only aggravate the situation.
Fever, which can last even several weeks, is the result of the body’s attempts to overcome a malfunction in the nervous system. During this period, redness may appear on a person’s face, dry skin may develop, and shine in the eyes may appear.
In more complex cases, amental excitation occurs. It is characterized by incoherent behavior, waving of the arms, constant movements of the legs, nodding of the head.
Remarkably, this form of mental disorder is more likely to develop in women at a young age. It is rarely seen in men over 40 years of age.
Is successful treatment possible?
The Korsakov Psychiatric Clinic has long been using effective methods for the treatment of febrile schizophrenia. This is done exclusively in stationary conditions, since being in society for the patient can be dangerous. Previously, this form of deviation was fatal to humans, but today the effective drug chlorpromazine is used. Experienced doctors of the clinic know exactly the sequence of taking and dosage of the drug, which must be combined with courses of vitamins, antihistamines and cordiamine.
Only specialists can help with such a mental illness, since even treatment can cause a number of complications and the need to replace the main medication, as well as the use of electroconvulsive therapy.