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A team of Chilean researchers working in the early detection and in a comprehensive treatment of schizophrenia with the aim of reducing the neurological damage that it causes and to improve quality of life
The researchers, led by Dr. Hernán Silva, psychiatrist and researcher at the Milenio Institute of Biomedicine Neurociencia (BNI, in English) and the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Chile, are seeking to identify different According to official data, about 1% of the Chilean population suffers from schizophrenia considered very disabling, but which, according to Silva, was treated early in life. Diagnosis and treatment could mean positive changes in the lives of patients.
Read also: How to know schizophrenia?
To do this, you two years ago, twenty people, mostly teenagers, participate in a monitoring and badysis work to establish risk markers to predict the possible development of this pathology or other mental disorders
in a program with children and young people, which had some early manifestations considered a risk, "says Silva.
To do this , he says, an investigation is carried out from the neurobiological point of view "which includes the search for electrophysiological markers, laboratory tests, clinical tests and cognitive functions, which we know to be altered early. "
For Silva, early detection allows the patient to have better prevention and rehabilitation," even being able to stop the damage to the nervous system. "
Read also: Depression or schizophrenia? The blood would have the answer
Currently, when the diagnosis is made," there has already been a cerebral process that is often not recoverable ", so the work tries to "do a detection of biomarkers in previous steps, who can tell us which people will evolve to a schizophrenia or to other images, such as bipolar disorder. "
Up to now, about 30% of recruited patients have developed schizophrenia and the preliminary results of the program could already be obtained in the coming months.
The study adds to of other team investigations, such as a follow-up program for patients who have already had a first psychotic episode.
Schizophrenia mainly affects men and usually occurs between 15 and 15 years. 20 years, when the cerebral cortex is consolidating its development, and is characterized by the appearance of auditory hallucinations, distortion disorders, thought disorders, the negative symptoms of demotivation and reduction of the
If it is not treated in time, it usually produces psychological, social and professional handicaps, with a significant economic cost and human suffering.
"Today We are clear that schizophrenia is determined by genetic factors that, combined with the environmental elements produced in the intrauterine phase or the first years of life, lead to the development of this disease, "he explains. -he.
In this context, he said, "we see that it is a clinical and neurobiological process that began well before there are any obvious manifestations" , highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
that the first signs may also be due to other reasons, such as a depression caused by a family breakdown, sentimental, or a situation of intimidation, for Silva, it is important to & [[SilSilbeattentiveandveryconnectedwiththepatient'senvironment
In this sense, he considers it "fundamental" to work with family and teachers because "it is they who can detect these changes in children. teens. "
Another factor that increases the risk is the consumption of substances such as marijuana during adolescence.
There are studies that show that such behaviors promote the development of schizophrenia, but also "after the twenty years of its consumption does not seem to influence the development of pathology. "
Silva and his team also work to spread the program and create in Chile a national network for the early detection of ] Schizophrenia .
In addition," we want to create networks with the rest of the continent, because closer alliances are essential for the psychiatrist, especially when programs of this nature have only been "This approach is a pioneer in South America," said Hernán Silva EFE
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