What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia involves a “splitting of mental functions” leading to hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speaking, abnormal motor behaviour, diminished emotional expression, lack of motivation, and impaired cognition. It limits one’s ability to function normally. People with schizophrenia often have trouble holding down jobs or caring for themselves. At its worst, schizophrenia leaves them frightened and withdrawn.
Positive and negative symptoms
Schizophrenia symptoms are categorized as positive or negative:
Positive symptoms are psychotic behaviours not seen in healthy people. These reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions. Positive symptoms include:
Hallucinations
hearing, seeing, smelling or feeling things that don’t exist.
Delusions
Disorganized Thinking
Disorganized Speech
Abnormal Psychomotor Behaviour
Repetitive, bizarre movements or complete immobility.
Avolition
Asociality
Alogia
Anhedonia
Inability to experience pleasure. Activities once enjoyed offer no joy.
Blunted affect
Subtypes
There are five subtypes of schizophrenia based on predominant symptoms:
Paranoid Schizophrenia
Preoccupation with delusions or auditory hallucinations related
Disorganized Schizophrenia
Prominence of thought and speech disorganization.
Catatonic Schizophrenia
Undifferentiated Uchizophrenia
Mixed symptoms.
Residual Schizophrenia
Causes
Research suggests schizophrenia arises from a complex interplay of genetics, brain chemistry, neurobiology and environmental influences. Genetic inheritance seems to be the strongest risk factor. Schizophrenia has been linked to excess dopamine activity and neurotransmitter imbalances, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on the documented persistence of two or more major positive symptoms, along with declining functioning, for at least six months. Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed if a mood disorder is also present. Delusions or hallucinations from medical conditions or substance use rule out a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Treatments
Schizophrenia remains a profound mystery in many ways. However, greater awareness and compassion for those struggling with it can make a meaningful difference in their lives. Ongoing research brings hope for better understanding and care for this complex, life-altering condition.