What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

There are many different kinds of schizophrenia and I've found everyone is a bit different. I'm not going to bore everyone with pages of information. Please go to the NAMI.org website and link to "inform yourself". Their information on schizophrenia is pretty accurate. Their emphasis is on "brain disease", and schizophrenia is a brain disease.

As opposed to personality disorders or disorders caused by abuse or trauma. Which brings up the cute but clearly ignorant statement someone before said about which one is asking the question. Schizophrenia is definitely not the same as multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder since the latest DSM was published). Unfortunately, there are so many people who just can't seem to understand that. The treatment is very different for those two conditions!

Answer 2

The DSM-IV (Psychology's diagnostic guide) has this as the diagnostic criteria:
Schizophrenia

A. Characteristic symptoms: Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month perior (or less if successfully treated):
(1) delusions (beliefs/thoughts that seem real, but are not true)
(2) hallucinations (seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling things)
(3) disorganized speech
(4) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
(5) negative symptoms (i.e. affective flattening, alogia, or avolition)

Note: Only Criterion A symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices convering with each other.
B. Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset
C. Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or two of more symptoms listed in Criterion A present in an attenuated form (i.e. odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experience).
D. Schizoaffective and Mood Disorder exclusion: Schizoaffective Disorder and Mood Disorder with Psychotic Features have been ruled out
E. Substance/general medical condition exclusion: The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substnace or a general medical condition.
F. Relationship to a Pervasive Developmental Disorder: If there is a history of Autism or other PDD, the addional diagnosis of Schizophrenia is made only if prominent delusions or hallucinations are also present for at least one month.

There are 5 types of schizophrenia: Paranoid type, Disorganized type, Catatonic Type, and Undifferentiated type.

I also wanted to dispel some schizophrenia risks:
Schizophrenia does not mean that you have multiple personalities. People with schizophrenia may be psychotic (hallucinations, etc), but they do not split. Multiple personalities is Dissociative Identity Disorder.

People with schizophrenia are not violent. There is no evidence that shows that people with schizophrenia are more violent than the rest of the population. However, if a person with schizophrenia commits a crime, the media jumps on top of it and blows it out of proportion.

People with schizophrenia are not stupid. They may be disorganized, but most still have average intelligence.

Schizophrenia is not demon possession. There are valid studies that show differences in the ventricles of a schizophrenic brain.

Schizophenia is not caused by bad parenting. The schizophrenigenic mother theory was refuted long ago.

Schizophrenia cannot be cured. Okay, this one is true. Schizophrenia is a persistent, serious mental illness. It can't be cured. But the symptoms can be successfully controlled.

Answer 3

Dear Friend,
After all the ASSes are done playing games with your question, click the link below for your true answer. It is a link to the schizophrenia pages of the web site of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It provides a list of symptoms as well as other useful information. The second link is for WebMD.

I take your question very seriously because I am bipolar. Wither you are asking for yourself or for a friend or loved one, I wish you luck in your search for peace and normalcy. If at anytime you feel a need or desire to talk to me my email is [e-mail]

Sincerely,
Terry

Answer 4

Paranoid, hallucinations, responding to internal stimuli, combative behavior, .....

its not just hearing voices.

Answer 5

well i don't really know but my Dr. said that is what is wrong with me maybe its because i hear people that ain't there and see things that ain't there i don't know but i think that has something to do with it don't it....

Answer 6

Which one of you is asking the question?

How's that?

Answer 7

I have it and it aint no joke...long family history also.

Answer 8

hearing voice or seeing things that aren,t there.