SCARF Schizophrenia Exchange

  • SCARF Schizophrenia Exchange
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    SCARF is the acronym for the Schizophrenia Research Foundation, a non governmental, non profit organization in Chennai (Formerly Madras) in south India Founded in 1984 by a group of philanthropists and mental health professionals led by Dr. M.Sarada Menon, an internationally known psychiatrist, SCARF has established itself as a center of repute in rehabilitation and research in disorders of the mind. The present team led by the Director Dr. R.Thara is composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, rehab personnel, administrative and support staff. SCARF is one of the very few NGOs in the world to be named as a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization ( WHO) for Mental Health Research and Training. SCARF would like to reach and support a wider community of patients and their caregivers through this community platform.

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  • I’m Insane
    SCHIZOPHRENIA AWARENESS WEEK A poem by a person with schizophrenia   A whirlwind of pain these days are When will I again be free But I know I must not look far But step by step as I see The doctor is kind and tells me Don’t fret the sun will yet shine And I know I can still be happy Even though I am not fine The world is going ahead And I am left behind And all for the sickness in my head A sickness of my mind And there are no one’s steps to follow In this darkened cruel place And my…
  • I am comfortable with myself and with the world again
    SCHIZOPHRENIA AWARENESS WEEK 2016 Mahesh (name changed) was caught unawares by schizophrenia which rendered him unsuitable for the world outside and for all those parameters which tag a person ‘normal’. He was unfit for school, for friends, for academics and for competition of any kind. Rudderless as he was, SCARF provided him with that much-needed cushion to re-discover himself and find his comfort zone. He recounts his fight here and how he managed to come to terms with it.…
  • Schizophrenia Signs and Symptoms
    What are the signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia?  The symptoms exhibited at different stages are different. The symptoms do not appear suddenly. They creep in stealthily and may be present for weeks to months before they progress to a full blown state. Stages of Schizophrenia elaborates how the symptoms progress. The signs and symptoms of schizophrenia are broadly grouped into two: Positive symptoms  Negative symptoms. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are behaviors and…
  • Schizophrenia Stages
    The symptoms of Schizophrenia progress slowly. There are broadly two stages in terms of the progression of Schizophrenia:   Prodrome Stage Acute Stage Prodrome Stage In the very beginning there are some “Behavioral changes” which can pass for normal variations in daily life. It is very difficult to state that at this stage they clearly indicate a disorder. These changes are not just a set of particular symptoms but a definite variation in the routine behavior of the individual…
  • Schizophrenia
    What is Schizophrenia “A slowly progressive deterioration of the entire personality which involves mainly the affective life and expresses itself in disorders of feeling thought and conduct and a tendency to withdraw from reality”          -  Eugen Bleuler  Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe multi-faceted and complex disorder of the mind, now being increasingly considered a brain disorder. It affects approximately 1% of the world population and has a…
  • Schizophrenia Management
    Effective management of schizophrenia always involves a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists and  families. Medication is the mainstay of treatment in schizophrenia. There is a wide range of medication to choose from depending on the person’s age, nature of illness, affordability, side effect profile etc. Treatment in schizophrenia does not stop with symptom control. It extends to include rehabilitation and reintegration back…
  • Schizophrenia Causes and Risk Factors
    What causes schizophrenia? There is no single cause for this ailment. Several factors play a role in the causation of this illness.  First and foremost are the genetic factors which are in place right from a person’s intra-uterine life. Then come the environmental factors which include adversities in life.  A combination of genetic predisposition, inherent vulnerability and the presence of environmental factors such as prolonged stress seem to lead to schizophrenia. Other…
  • Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Tests
    Are there investigations to diagnose Schizophrenia? There is no single diagnostic test to confirm this illness. The information provided by an observant family member combined with the doctor’s clinical acumen go a long way in arriving at a diagnosis. As a family member watch out for these signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia. Then how is this condition diagnosed? Like seizures or migraine this is a clinical entity which is diagnosed purely by a good psychiatrist’s diagnostic skills. The…
  • Schizophrenia Prevention
    There is no documented way to prevent Schizophrenia but if you are at a high risk due to genetic and environment factors, counselling may help. Also, early treatment is helpful in getting the symptoms under control and preventing full blown development of the condition. It is also important to stick to the treatment plan to prevent relapses. The treatment plan may include complementary therapies that help calm the mind like meditation, martial arts, art therapy, music therapy.  
  • Schizophrenia Treatment
    This section coming soon Refer to Schizophrenia Management for more information
Need full time care giver for my granny suffering from schizophrenia
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Sister with paranoid schizophrenia not taking food no insight
My 32 year old sister has paranoid schizophrenia with no insight. She has been showing symptoms since 2017 but was able to stay away from home and work. Whenever she was feeling persecuted she'd call my parents and yell and accuse them. Her delusion…
chronic schizophrenia patient treatment
My sister (age 40) is schizophrenia patient for past 20 years. My parents moved to Bangalore from chennai 5 years before for my sister treatment, she has been getting treatment in Abhaya hospital, Nimans Hospital(most of the time) and also Manipal…
Schizophrenia
What is the cure for schizophrenia?what are good rehab centers in Mumbai? Currently he got aggressive so doctors h has given medication. But somewhere he has to get independent.he can't depend on others for the rest of his life
Help
My brother was diagnosed with Positive Schinzophrenia last month. The Doctor prescribed him Aripiprazole 7.5 mg he took it for one month but it doesn't seem helping him.
irritation
I hate being illness, I'm taking antipsychotic medicine but yet hear ing non stop voices my head going to blast,I am getting more fear
job
i​ am suffering from schizophrenia and ocd . But my family, relatives and even my friend's and society don't understand this. . They all are thinking that I am just cheating them by not going to any job only because of my laziness. But this all…
Information regarding Self help Group and Counselling support In Bangalore
Hi, I am from bangalore and live with my parents and brother. My younger brother aged 25 is suffering from following conditions: 1. He has extreme dilusion. He thinks people are following him and commenting on his body and look. 2. He doubts me that…
Address of the NGO and telephone to meet regarding a patient
I request the telephone of the No in chennai regarding mental health of a patient.
Helpline for violent aggressive patients
Hi All My 79 yrs old father is a patient of schizophrenia for ages now and had stopped taking treatment after 2013. he claims he is absolutely sane and everybody around if conspiring against him and gets physically aggressive. Even though a senior…

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