Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that causes distortions in a person’s thoughts, speech and behavior. People suffering from schizophrenia often have difficulty expressing emotions, relating to others and perceiving reality. Approximately 24 million people worldwide have schizophrenia, including about one percent of Americans.

Cases of schizophrenia range from mild to severe; some people are able to function normally in everyday life, while others may need constant special care. Schizophrenia has three types of symptoms: positive symptoms (e.g. unrealistic perceptions and thoughts), negative symptoms (e.g. lack of emotions and activities), and cognitive symptoms (e.g. difficulties in attention and memory). Determining your symptoms will result in better diagnosis and treatment.

Within the general diagnosis of schizophrenia there are five subgroups which signify the most predominant characteristics of an individual’s illness. It is possible for one individual to be diagnosed with more than one type of schizophrenia over the course of his or her illness.

While the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, numerous developments about the disorder are constantly being made through research. Treatment for schizophrenia is available through therapy and antipsychotic medication.

• Paranoid schizophrenia: is marked by auditory hallucinations and delusions of persecution and conspiracy. Individuals may have relatively normal intellectual and social functioning, but are often angry and argumentative.

• Disorganized schizophrenia: is marked by disorganized or childlike behavior and speech, as well as, inappropriate emotions. Individuals may have difficulty with everyday activities and may be reclusive due to their inability to communicate effectively.

• Catatonic schizophrenia: is marked by disturbances in movement, immobility and mimicking another’s speech or movements. Individuals often show a resistance to taking care of their personal needs.

• Residual schizophrenia: is marked by less severe schizophrenic symptoms. Individuals may still have delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behavior, but do not display them.

• Undifferentiated schizophrenia: is marked by any combination of schizophrenic symptoms, though the symptoms are not specific enough to be defined by one type of schizophrenia.

Early Onset Schizophrenia
National Alliance on Mental Illness

How Can You Help a Person with Schizophrenia?
National Institute of Mental Health

How Is Schizophrenia Treated?
National Institute of Mental Health

Major Schizophrenia Study Finds Striking Similarities across 37 Countries in 6 Regions
Science Daily

Rare Mutation Dramatically Increases Schizophrenia Risk
Science Daily

Schizophrenia
World Health Organization

Schizophrenia: Symptoms
Mayo Clinic

Schizophrenia: Help for Partners and Families
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Types of Schizophrenia
Psych Central