What are some signs and symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

Signs and symptoms of SchizophreniaA person experiencing schizophrenia may demonstrate symptoms such as disorganized thinking, auditory hallucinations, and delusions. In severe cases, the person may be largely mute, remain motionless in bizarre postures, or exhibit purposeless agitation; these are signs of catatonia. The current classification of psychoses holds that symptoms need to have been present for at least one month in a period of at least six months of disturbed functioning. A schizophrenia-like psychosis of shorter duration is termed a schizophreniform disorder. No one sign is diagnostic of schizophrenia, and all can occur in other medical and psychiatric conditions.

Social isolation commonly occurs and may be due to a number of factors. Impairment in social cognition is associated with schizophrenia, as are the active symptoms of paranoia from delusions and hallucinations, and the negative symptoms of apathy and avolition. Many schizophrenia sufferers avoid potentially stressful social situations that may exacerbate mental distress.

Late adolescence and early adulthood are peak years for the onset of schizophrenia. These are critical periods in a young adult's social and vocational development, and they can be severely disrupted by disease onset. To minimize the impact of schizophrenia, much work has recently been done to identify and treat the prodromal (pre-onset) phase of the illness, which has been detected up to 30 months before the onset of symptoms, but may be present longer. Those who go on to develop schizophrenia may experience the non-specific symptoms of social withdrawal, irritability and dysphoria in the prodromal period,and transient or self-limiting psychotic symptoms in the prodromal phase before psychosis becomes apparent.1

DSM IV-TR CriteriaTo be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must display:

• Characteristic symptoms: Two or more of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period (or less, if successfully treated)
  • delusions
  • hallucinations
  • disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence; speaking in abstracts). See thought disorder.
  • grossly disorganized behavior (e.g. dressing inappropriately, crying frequently) or catatonic behavior
  • negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening (lack or decline in emotional response), alogia (lack or decline in speech), or avolition (lack or decline in motivation).

Note: Only one of these symptoms is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient's actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other.

• Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset.

• Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months. This six-month period must include at least one month of symptoms (or less, if successfully treated).

Additional criteria are also given that exclude the diagnosis; thus schizophrenia cannot be diagnosed if symptoms of mood disorder or pervasive developmental disorder are present, or the symptoms are the direct result of a substance (e.g., abuse of a drug, medication) or a general medical condition.

Answer 2

The following are warning signs of schizophrenia:

• Social isolation
• Not showing emotion
• Not taking care of yourself
• No longer enjoying activities that were previously enjoyed
• Having problems at school or work
• Talking about hearing or seeing things that other people do not see or hear
• Having strange beliefs that other people do not have
• Changing mood quickly

Answer 3

Signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia include hostility, depression, social withdrawal, irrational behavior, extreme reactions, strange way of speaking. Also forgetfulness and the inability to cry can be symptoms.

Answer 4

Schizophrenia is a chronic yet severe mental disorder that affects your brain. Schizophrenia is to believed to be cause by imbalance of chemicals in your brain. Symptoms for this disorder are hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions.

Answer 5

Schizophrenia is a challenging disorder that makes it difficult to distinguish between what is real and unreal, think clearly, manage emotions, relate to others, and function normally. But that doesn't mean there isn't hope. Schizophrenia can be successfully managed. The first step is to identify the signs and symptoms. The second step is to seek help without delay and the third is to stick with the treatment. With the right treatment and support, a person with schizophrenia can lead a happy, fulfilling life.

Answer 6

Some symptoms of Paranoid schizophrenia include auditory hallucinations, anger, delusions, and emotional distance. The most obvious of these are auditory hallucinations and delusions.

Answer 7

Many signs of Schizophrenia are displayed differently in different people. A lot of sufferers include delusions, hallucinations, and disordered behavior.

Answer 8

The symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, agitation, etc., if you have these symptoms should go to a medical center to receive treatment.