Schizophrenia Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms usually start in adolescence or early adulthood. They often appear slowly and become more disturbing and bizarre over time, or they may occur in a matter of weeks or months.

Symptoms include:

Hallucinations—seeing or hearing things/voices that are not there
Delusions—strong but false personal beliefs that are not based in reality
Disorganized thinking
Disorganized speech—lack of ability to speak in a way that makes sense or carry a conversation
Catatonic behavior—slow movement, repeating rhythmic gestures, pacing, walking in circles, negativism, repetitive speech
Emotional flatness—flat speech, lack of facial expression, and general disinterest and withdrawal
Paranoia—a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur
Inappropriate laughter
Poor hygiene and self-care

Associated conditions include:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Substance abuse (of drugs , alcohol , caffeine, nicotine)
Self-injury , including suicide

Diagnosis

Early diagnosis is extremely important. People who are diagnosed early are able to:

Stabilize their symptoms
Decrease the risk of suicide
Decrease alcohol and substance abuse
Reduce the chance of relapse and/or hospitalization

A person must have active symptoms for at least two weeks, and other symptoms for at least six months before a diagnosis can be made. The doctor will rule out other causes such as drug use, medical illness, or a different mental condition.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2024 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.