Schizophrenia has both of what are called positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms do not refer to pleasant effects but rather they refer to hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Some people with schizophrenia have disorders of movement, where they may have unusual mannerisms or grimaces. The most extreme form of a disorder is rare today because of medical treatments. Negative symptoms refer to inactions, such as a lack of desire or an inability to express emotion, speak, or make plans. In addition, the person may have what is called a flat affect, or no expression of any emotion. Another negative symptom is an inability to take pleasure in everyday events. Sometimes the negative symptom of schizophrenia are misdiagnosed as depression.
Symptoms of schizophrenia may include the following:
• Paranoid delusions, …show more content…
• Delusions that outside forces are controlling the person’s thoughts, either inserting them into the individual’s head or removing them from the individual’s mind (delusions of influence)
• Auditory hallucinations in which voices in the mind threaten, insult, or command the victim (less common are visual or tactile hallucinations)
• Emotions that are blunted or inappropriate to the situation, such as laughing or smiling inappropriately.
Symptoms of schizophrenia may come and go over periods of years, and sufferers may have some periods when they can function normally, particularly when they are receiving appropriate medical treatment.
Treatment & Prognosis
Treatment is comprised of medications, and, when sufficient insight has been gained with medication, psychotherapy can be very helpful.
Antipsychotic medications may relieve the hallucinations and delusions, and however antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole, clozapine, or resperidone, are very effective in helping many people with schizophrenia attain normal or near-normal lives and
Symptoms of schizophrenia may include the following:
• Paranoid delusions, …show more content…
• Delusions that outside forces are controlling the person’s thoughts, either inserting them into the individual’s head or removing them from the individual’s mind (delusions of influence)
• Auditory hallucinations in which voices in the mind threaten, insult, or command the victim (less common are visual or tactile hallucinations)
• Emotions that are blunted or inappropriate to the situation, such as laughing or smiling inappropriately.
Symptoms of schizophrenia may come and go over periods of years, and sufferers may have some periods when they can function normally, particularly when they are receiving appropriate medical treatment.
Treatment & Prognosis
Treatment is comprised of medications, and, when sufficient insight has been gained with medication, psychotherapy can be very helpful.
Antipsychotic medications may relieve the hallucinations and delusions, and however antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole, clozapine, or resperidone, are very effective in helping many people with schizophrenia attain normal or near-normal lives and