(Information sourced from Mental Health Association NSW.)
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects a person's ability to think, feel, and behave. It affects how they see the world, themselves and others. It is characterized by a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
Early phase may include:
eccentric traits, lack of motivation, lack of emotion, being a recluse.
The person can become isolated, neglectful, and show an indifference to life. Their day to day performance in life may deteriorate.
About 1% of the population have schizophrenia. Symptoms usually begin between 16-30 years of age.
Symptoms may be mild or severe. Some people have one episode, others have multiple episodes, and still others have unrelenting symptoms that need ongoing treatment.
A diagnosis usually entails having two of the the symptoms for at least 30 days.
Symptoms are divided into Positive and Negative.
Positive symptoms (psychotic or active) reflect a inability to function normally, and includes:
Delusions - false personal beliefs involving illogical or strange thoughts or fantasies. It may be paranoia.
Hallucinations - sounds or sensations that only exist in the person's mind. Hearing voices, or a visual or olfactory hallucination.
Grossly disorganised/Abnormal Motor Behaviour (including Catatonia) - behaviour from childlike to unpredictable agitation that affects day-to-day life, impairing self-care, work and social interactions.
Disorganised thinking (speech) - fragmented thinking, difficulty in concentrating and maintaining train of thought.
Negative symptoms are the absence of normal behaviours and includes:
Lack of emotional expression of Affective Flattening - unchanging facial expression, poor eye contact and body language, sudden moves.
Loss of motivation or Avolition - inability to converse, disconnection, speaking flatly
Loss of Feeling or Anhedonia - disinterest in social or recreational activities, can't form relationships. Little joy. Loner.
Other effects of Schizophrenia:
Relationship problems. Drug and alcohol abuse. Increased suicide risk.
Causes:
Not clearly understood, schizophrenia is affected by biological, psychological, social and environmental factors.