DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is working with Weill Cornell Medical College–Qatar (WCMC-Q) on a number of research projects which aim to improve how schizophrenia is diagnosed and treated in the country.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness which affects one to three percent of the population worldwide; it usually presents between the ages of 15 and 35.
The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, was ‘Living with Schizophrenia’.
Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at HMC, and Dr Hassen Al Amin, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at WCMC-Q, said that improving science gaps in mental health care through new research is vital to the development of evidence-based solutions; and in turn, bringing the safest, most effective and compassionate care to those in need.
“The research areas we are focusing on, such as making the tools for schizophrenia assessment more culturally relevant, reviewing the side effects of medication, analysing the impact of patient satisfaction, and studying the quality of life and the needs of people who are diagnosed, will allow us to collect essential data. This data will facilitate service improvement plans to ensure individuals with schizophrenia receive optimal care,” said Dr Ghuloum.
“The symptoms experienced by a person with schizophrenia may present as hallucinations, hearing or seeing things that do not exist, delusional beliefs and disorganised thoughts. They can be very distressing,” said Dr Ghuloum.
Dr Al Amin highlights that schizophrenia is generally regarded as one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions.
“Having a clear understanding of what the condition is goes a long way. The problem is that most people do not understand what schizophrenia is. This is largely due to years of misrepresentation in the media. As a result, there is a high level of stigma surrounding it,” said Dr Al Amin.
Dr Al Amin adds that schizophrenia is not the presence of a split personality or multiple personalities. He says the incorrect association between these things contributes massively to the stigma of the condition. “People with schizophrenia are not any more likely to display violent behaviour than others. In reality, they are more at risk of harming themselves or being abused by others,” said Dr Al Amin.
Talking about the causes of schizophrenia, the expert was keen to dispel the idea that it could be caused by environmental factors. “A child cannot develop schizophrenia as a result of being treated badly by his or her parents, or as a result of reading certain books or watching certain films,” he said.
“While environmental factors could contribute to a relapse, the causes of the condition are organic; they occur naturally within the make-up of the brain. Schizophrenia can also be inherited; individuals with a family history of the condition are at a higher risk of being affected,” said Dr Al Amin.
Any person who is experiencing symptoms of a mental health issue should seek immediate treatment by making an appointment to see a doctor, who will then refer them to HMC’s specialist services. In an emergency situation, call 999 for an ambulance or present to the Emergency Department.
The Peninsula
