Psychology Facts

▲ Schizophrenia ▲

》Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Though schizophrenia isn't as common as other major mental illnesses, it can be the most chronic and disabling.

》There are five subtypes of schizophrenia:
paranoid schizophrenia,
disorganized schizophrenia,
catatonic schizophrenia,
undifferentiated schizophrenia,
and residual schizophrenia.

》Positive symptoms
(not positive meaning good)

In this case, the word positive doesn't mean good. It refers to added thoughts or actions that aren't based in reality. They're sometimes called psychotic symptoms and can include:

Delusions: These are false, mixed, and sometimes strange beliefs that aren't based in reality and that the person refuses to give up, even when shown the facts. For example, a person with delusions may believe that people can hear their thoughts, that they are God or the devil, or that people are putting thoughts into their head or plotting against them.

Hallucinations: These involve sensations that aren't real. Hearing voices is the most common hallucination in people with schizophrenia. The voices may comment on the person's behavior, insult them, or give commands. Less common types include seeing things that aren't there, smelling strange odors, having a funny taste in your mouth, and feeling sensations on your skin even though nothing is touching your body.

Catatonia: In this condition, the person may stop speaking, and their body may be fixed in a single position for a very long time.

》Negative symptoms

The word "negative" here doesn't mean "bad." It notes the absence of normal behaviors in people with schizophrenia. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include:

Lack of emotion or a limited range of emotions

Withdrawal from family, friends, and social activities

Less energy

Speaking less

Lack of motivation

Loss of pleasure or interest in life

Poor hygiene and grooming habits

》Disorganized Symptoms of Schizophrenia

These are positive symptoms that show that the person can't think clearly or respond as expected. Examples include:

Talking in sentences that don't make sense or using nonsense words, making it difficult for the person to communicate or hold a conversation

Shifting quickly from one thought to the next without obvious or logical connections between them

Moving slowly

Being unable to make decisions

Writing excessively but without meaning

Forgetting or losing things

Repeating movements or gestures, like pacing or walking in circles