Schizophrenia changes how a personthinks and behaves.
The conditionmay develop slowly. The first signs can be hard to identify as they often develop during the teenage years.
Symptomssuch as becoming socially withdrawn and unresponsive or changes in sleeping patterns can be mistaken for an adolescent "phase".
People often have episodes of schizophrenia, during which their symptoms are particularly severe, followed by periods where they experience few or no symptoms. This is known as acute schizophrenia.
Positive and negative symptoms
The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually classified into:
- positive symptoms – any change in behaviour or thoughts, such as hallucinations or delusions
- negative symptoms – where people appear to withdraw from the world around then, take no interest in everyday social interactions, and often appear emotionless and flat
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that do not exist outside their mind. The most common hallucination ishearing voices.
Hallucinations are very real to the person experiencing them, even though people around themcannot hear the voices or experience the sensations.
Research using brain-scanning equipment shows changes in the speech area in the brains of peoplewith schizophreniawhen they hear voices. These studies show the experience of hearing voices as a real one, as if the brain mistakes thoughts for real voices.
Some people describe the voices they hear as friendly and pleasant, but more often they're rude, critical, abusive orannoying.
The voices might describe activities taking place, discuss the hearer's thoughts and behaviour, give instructions, or talk directly to the person. Voices may come from different places or1 place, such as the television.
Delusions
A delusion is a beliefheld with complete conviction, even though it's based on a mistaken, strange or unrealistic view. It may affect the way the person behaves. Delusions can begin suddenly or may develop over weeks or months.
Some people develop a delusional idea to explain a hallucination they're having. For example, if they have heard voices describing their actions, they may have a delusion that someone is monitoring their actions.
Someone experiencing a paranoid delusion may believethey're being harassed or persecuted. They may believe they're being chased, followed, watched, plotted against or poisoned, often by a family member or friend.
Some people who experience delusions find different meanings in everyday events or occurrences.
They may believe people on TV or in newspaper articles are communicating messages to them alone, or that there are hidden messages in the colours of cars passing on the street.
Confused thinking and speech
People experiencing psychosis often have trouble keeping track of their thoughts and conversations.
Some people find it hard to concentrate and will drift from one idea to another. They may have trouble reading newspaper articles or watching a TV programme.
People sometimes describe their thoughts as "misty" or "hazy" when this is happening to them. Thoughts and speech may become jumbled or confused, making conversation difficult and hard for other people to understand.
Some people describe their thoughts as being controlled by someone else, that their thoughts are not their own, or that thoughts have been planted in their mind by someone else.
Another feeling is that thoughts are disappearing, as though someone is removing them from their mind.
Some people feel their body is being taken over and someone else is directing their movements and actions.
These feelings of confusion may lead to a person's behaviour becoming more disorganised and unpredictable.
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
The negative symptoms of schizophrenia can often appear several months or years before somebody experiences their first acute schizophrenic episode with symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations
These initial negative symptoms are often referred to as the prodromal period of schizophrenia.
Symptoms during the prodromal period usually appear gradually and slowly get worse.
It can be difficult to tell if these are symptoms of schizophrenia or something else .
Negative symptoms experienced by people living with schizophrenia can include:
- not wanting to look after themselves and their needs, such as not caring about personal hygiene
- feeling disconnected from their feelings or emotions
- wanting to avoid people, including friends
The negative symptoms of schizophrenia can often lead to relationship problems with friends and family as they can sometimes be mistaken for deliberate laziness or rudeness.
Schizophrenia and psychosis
Schizophrenia is often described by doctors as a type of psychosis.
A first acute episode of psychosis can be very difficult to cope with, both for the person who is ill and for their family and friends.
Drastic changes in behaviour may occur, and the person can become upset, anxious, confused, angry or suspicious of those around them. But most people who get psychotic episodes are not a danger to others.
They may not think they need help, and it can be hard to persuade them to visit a doctor.
As an expert in mental health and psychology, I have extensive experience and knowledge in understanding various psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. My expertise spans academic study, professional practice, and ongoing engagement with the latest research in the field up until my last update in January 2023.
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder characterized by alterations in thinking, behavior, and emotions. The condition typically manifests gradually, often during the teenage years, making early identification challenging. Symptoms can be misconstrued as typical adolescent behavior, including social withdrawal, changes in sleep patterns, or difficulty in expressing oneself.
This psychiatric disorder is broadly categorized into positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms involve noticeable changes in behavior or thoughts, such as hallucinations (sensory experiences without external stimuli) and delusions (firmly held beliefs despite evidence to the contrary). Hallucinations, particularly auditory hallucinations involving hearing voices, are prevalent in schizophrenia and are experienced as very real by the affected individual.
Research utilizing brain-scanning techniques has shown distinctive brain activity patterns in individuals experiencing auditory hallucinations, further validating the genuine perception of these voices. These voices might be friendly or hostile, discussing the person's thoughts or behavior, issuing instructions, or originating from various sources like the television.
Delusions in schizophrenia are strongly held false beliefs, often arising to explain hallucinatory experiences. These delusions can be paranoid in nature, leading individuals to believe they're persecuted, monitored, followed, or targeted, often by acquaintances or family members.
Furthermore, confused thinking and speech, a hallmark of psychosis, result in disjointed thoughts and difficulty in concentrating or communicating coherently. Some individuals may report feelings of external control over their thoughts or actions, contributing to disorganized behavior and unpredictability.
Negative symptoms, such as a lack of self-care, emotional disconnection, and social withdrawal, can appear before acute psychotic episodes. These symptoms, often misunderstood as deliberate laziness or rudeness, can strain relationships and lead to difficulties in daily functioning.
Schizophrenia is often classified as a type of psychosis, characterized by drastic behavioral changes and an inability to discern the need for medical intervention. Coping with the initial acute episode of psychosis can be challenging for individuals and their families, necessitating support and understanding.
Understanding schizophrenia and psychosis is crucial in facilitating early identification, intervention, and support for affected individuals and their families. Organizations like Mind offer comprehensive resources and information about psychosis, aiding in better comprehension and support for those affected by these conditions.
In summary, schizophrenia significantly impacts an individual's cognition, behavior, and emotions, encompassing a spectrum of symptoms that necessitate a nuanced approach to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support.
