| Article Index |
|---|
| Symptoms of schizophrenia |
| Distorted Perceptions |
| Positive Symptoms |
| Negative Symptoms |
| Making a Diagnosis |
| All Pages |
Negative symptoms:
These symptoms are often the symptoms that cause the most disability in schizophrenia.
These symptoms negatively affect interest, energy, emotional life and motivation. As a result, the person may not bother to get up or go out, may not maintain hygiene – personal or otherwise, and may never get excited or enthusiastic about anything any more. The person will tend to avoid meeting people, will say little or nothing, and may appear emotionally rather blank. Negative symptoms upset families, who feel that it is a matter of 'won't' rather than 'can't', or as if the person they knew had been replaced by a stranger who just won't do anything. It is important for the family to understand that this is as much a part of this crippling illness as are delusions and hallucinations.
The young person suffering from schizophrenia may become quiet, reserved and can appear emotionally isolated. They seem to lose general interest, drive and motivation and may stop washing regularly or looking after themselves properly. Concentrating on work and other commitments can seem impossible at times.
Typically, the symptoms are severe enough to cause concerns both at home and at school. Positive or negative symptoms alone do not mean that the person is definitely developing schizophrenia. Similar symptoms also happen in other conditions, such as depressive illness or as part of a severe reaction to stress. The nature and sheer complexity of the illness mean that medical attention is a must.
Emotional Expression
People with schizophrenia often appear flat or emotionally withdrawn. This refers to a severe reduction in emotional expressiveness. A person with schizophrenia may not show the signs of normal emotion, perhaps may speak in a monotonous voice, have diminished facial expressions, and appear extremely apathetic. The person may withdraw socially, avoiding contact with others; and when forced to interact, he or she may have nothing to say, possibly reflecting impoverished thought, amongst other things. As motivation and an individual’s ability to experience pleasure can be greatly decreased, this impacts severely on a person’s desire to continue on with day-to-day life. Unfortunately, rates of suicide are extremely high. It is estimated that around 1 in 20 of people with schizophrenia complete suicide. These pervasive problems with emotional expression and motivation and inability to experience pleasure, which may be extremely troubling to family members and friends, are symptoms of schizophrenia, not ‘character flaws’ or ‘personal weaknesses’.
