Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder. People with this disorder experience distortions of reality, often experiencing delusions or hallucinations.
Misconceptions about this disorder are common. For example, some people think it creates a “split personality.” In fact, schizophrenia and split personality — properly termed dissociative identity disorder — are two different disorders.
Schizophrenia can occur in men and women of all ages. Men often develop symptoms in their late teens or early 20s. Women tend to show signs in their late 20s and early 30s.
Key Facts
- Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, debilitating mental illness.
- With the sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms, the individual is said to be experiencing acute psychosis. Psychotic means out of touch with reality or unable to separate real from unreal experiences.
- There is no known single cause of schizophrenia
Symptoms
Symptoms of schizophrenia may include the following:
Early symptoms
Symptoms of this disorder commonly show up in the teenage years and early 20s. At these ages, the earliest signs may get overlooked because of typical adolescent behaviors.
Early symptoms include:
- isolating oneself from friends and family
- changing friends or social groups
- a change in focus and concentration
- sleep problems
- irritability and agitation
- difficulties with schoolwork, or poor academic performance
Positive symptoms
“Positive” symptoms of schizophrenia are behaviors that are not typical in otherwise healthy individuals. These behaviors include:
- Hallucinations. Hallucinations are experiences that appear real but are created by your mind. They include seeing things, hearing voices, or smelling things others around you do not experience.
- Delusions. A delusion occurs when you believe something despite evidence or facts to the contrary.
- Thought disorders. These are unusual ways of thinking or processing information.
- Movement disorders. These include agitated body movements or strange postures.
Negative symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia interrupt a person’s typical emotions, behaviors, and abilities. These symptoms include:
- disorganized thinking or speech, where the person changes topics rapidly when speaking or uses made-up words or phrases
- trouble controlling impulses
- odd emotional responses to situations
- a lack of emotion or expressions
- loss of interest or excitement for life
- social isolation
- trouble experiencing pleasure
- difficulty beginning or following through with plans
- difficulty completing normal everyday activities
Cognitive symptoms
Cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are sometimes subtle and may be difficult to detect. However, the disorder can affect memory and thinking.
These symptoms include:
- disorganized thinking, such as trouble focusing or paying attention
- poor “executive functioning,” or understanding information and using it to make decisions
- problems learning information and using it
- lack of insight or being unaware of their symptoms
Symptoms of schizophrenia can be difficult to detect.
Causes
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Medical researchers believe several factors can contribute, including:
- biological
- genetic
- environmental
Recent studies have suggested that imaging tests completed on people with schizophrenia may show abnormalities in certain brain structures. Ongoing research in this area continues. Chemical abnormalities in the brain are believed to be responsible for many of the symptoms seen in schizophrenia.
Researchers also believe low levels of certain brain chemicals that affect emotions and behavior may contribute to this psychiatric disorder.
Genetics may also play a role. People with a family history of schizophrenia have a higher risk of developing this disorder.
Other risk factors for schizophrenia may include:
- exposure to toxins or a virus before birth or during infancy
- having an inflammatory or an autoimmune disease
- using mind-altering drugs
- high stress levels
here is no cure for schizophrenia. If you are diagnosed with this disorder, you will need lifelong treatment. Treatments can control or reduce the severity of symptoms.
It is important to get treatment from a psychiatrist or mental health professional who has experience treating people with this disorder. You may also work with a social worker or a case manager, too.
Possible treatments include the following:
Medications
Antipsychotic medication is the most common treatment for schizophrenia. Medication can help stop:
- hallucinations
- delusions
- symptoms of psychosis
If psychosis occurs, you may be hospitalized and receive treatment under close medical supervision.
Psychosocial intervention
Another treatment option for schizophrenia is psychosocial intervention. This includes individual therapy to help you cope with stress and your illness. Social training can improve your social and communication skills.
Vocational rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation can provide you with the skills you need to return to work. It may make maintaining a regular job easier.
In most cases there are recurring episodes of symptoms (relapses). Most people in this group live relatively independently with varying amounts of support. The frequency and duration of each relapse can vary. Some people recover completely between relapses. Some people improve between relapses but never quite fully recover. Treatment often prevents relapses, or limits their number and severity.
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