SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenic patients occupy more hospital beds than any other illness including cancer, heart disease, and stroke combined. The annual cost of this condition is roughly $48 billion when factoring in medical treatment, Social Security payments, and wages lost due to the disorder.  Treatment for mental illnesses are expensive. The U.S. spent $187.8 billion on mental health conditions and substance use disorders in 2013. $70 billion of that cost was spent on depression treatment alone. The total cost of treatment of anxiety and depression disorders across 36 countries worldwide is estimated to be $147 billion by 2030, according to a study published by Lancet Psychiatry. This cost will produce a net benefit (based on an estimated 5% improvement in work productivity) of a $399 billion economic gain.

Average Cost to Deliver Treatment to Those with Medicare

• Schizophrenia treatment:        $8,509 for 11.1 days
• Bipolar Disorder treatment:     $7,593 for 9.4 days
• Depression treatment:              $6,990 for 8.4 days

Average Cost to Deliver Treatment for Those Who are Uninsured

• Schizophrenia treatment:       $5,707 for 7.4 days
• Bipolar Disorder treatment:    $4,356 for 5.5 days
• Depression treatment:              $3,616 for 4.4 days

The limbic system and associated neurotransmitter functions of the brain are the primary target in the treatment of schizophrenia. Medications prescribed include antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and tranquilizers. These medications manipulate neurotransmitter function. Side effects of these medications range from dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, restlessness, muscle spasm, and tremors. They can also cause side effects that resemble psychotic symptoms.  A severe long-term effect of these neuroleptic drugs is a condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD) and is characterized by involuntary muscle movement which most often involves the limbs, mouth, tongue, eyes, and other parts of the face. Involuntary grimaces, tongue protrusions, lip smacking, and chewing are typical manifestations of TD. It can be a permanent disability even after the drug has been discontinued.

Positive Symptoms

• Delusions:  false beliefs
• Hallucinations:  feeling, tasting, hearing, smelling things not present
• Disorganized speech and behavior:  moving from one topic to another quickly in a way that doesn’t make sense including made-up words

Negative Symptoms

• Apathy
• Social withdrawal
• Lack of drive
• Emotionally Unresponsive

Subtypes of Schizophrenia

• Paranoid:  feeling extremely suspicious, grandiose, persecuted
• Disorganized:  incoherent speech and thought
• Catatonic:  withdrawn, mute, negative, assumes strange body positions
• Schizoaffective:  symptoms of schizophrenia and major mood disorder (like depression)

Schizophrenia | Psychosis Biotypes

• Overmethylation:     42%
• Undermethylation:   28%
• Pyrrole disorder:        20%
• Gluten intolerance:      4%
• Other:   6%  (thyroid, low blood sugar, medications side effects, recreational drugs)

Neurotransmitters that affect mental health, such as serotonin and dopamine, are manufactured in the brain. The raw material for synthesizing neurotransmitters are vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and co-factors. A genetic or epigenetic imbalance in a single nutrient can alter levels of key neurotransmitters resulting in abnormal brain chemistry.  Each individual person is biochemically unique. Understanding individual biotypes allows for the correction of biochemical imbalances using nutrient therapies that can heal the brain.

Imbalances that Alter Neurotransmitter Activity

• Copper overload
• Undermethylation
• Overmethylation
• Pyrrole disorder
• Toxic metal overload
• Oxidative stress
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Thyroid problems
• Blood sugar levels
• Inflammation

… and more…

Neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity cause neurotransmitter imbalances and damage neurons. Cellular physiology is highly dynamic and recovery strategies are multifaceted. SunCodes Holistic Health creates fully customized care plans to meet the needs of each unique individual.

As with all mental illness, Schizophrenia is the outcome of body-mind-spirit disturbances caused by emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, and energetic influences.  These all affect each other and cannot be isolated. SunCodes provides spiritual guidance to reconnect these components during the course of your personalized program.

Each individual person is biochemically unique. Understanding individual biotypes allows for the correction of biochemical imbalances using various combinations of nutrient, endocannabinoid, and amino acid therapies that can calm the brain and mind, and uplift the spirit.

If you are ready for a holistic approach to mental wellness, contact us today to get started.