| Article Index |
|---|
| Symptoms of schizophrenia |
| Distorted Perceptions |
| Positive Symptoms |
| Negative Symptoms |
| Making a Diagnosis |
| All Pages |
People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them.
These hallucinations and delusions are categorised in the ‘positive’ symptom category, mentioned briefly above. These symptoms may leave them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behaviour can be so disorganized that they may be incomprehensible or seem frightening to others. The available treatments can relieve many symptoms, but some people with schizophrenia continue to suffer some symptoms throughout their lives. It has been estimated that no more than one in five individuals recovers completely.
Some may be unwell for a few months only, others may have longer and repeated episodes. For an unfortunate few, the episodes may be severe and continuous. It is now possible to predict within the first two years, which form it will take. Schizophrenia profoundly affects their health, happiness, and social life. They are more likely to be physically ill or commit suicide, and many live in poverty and isolation. Good treatment can go a long way to prevent this.
At times, people with it may find it difficult to plan and do things. They may find it hard to get up and get going. These symptoms are categorised amongst the ‘negative’ symptoms of the illness. Everything may seem dull and pointless. These symptoms can make it hard for them to do things for themselves and therefore normal functioning in day-to-day life can become extremely difficult. It can look like they are being lazy. But they are not. All of the above symptoms can be described in terms of abnormal brain chemical activity.
Some people have only one such psychotic episode; others have many episodes during a lifetime, but can lead relatively normal lives during the interim periods. However, the individual with chronic schizophrenia, or a continuous or recurring pattern of illness, often does not fully recover normal functioning and typically requires long-term treatment, generally including medication, to control the symptoms.
