Symptoms and Complications
Because schizophrenia presents a variety of symptoms, the illness is classified
according to which symptoms are most prevalent in a particular individual.
Paranoid schizophrenia describes those who have psychotic symptoms
(hallucinations and delusions). Examples of delusions include believing that
other people or circumstances are controlling their lives, or are bent on destroying
them. Hallucinations can affect any of the senses - sight, sound, smell, taste,
or touch - making it hard to tell what is real and what is not. Auditory hallucinations
(i.e., hearing malicious "voices" which are angry or critical of them)
are common.
Disorganized schizophrenia, or thought form disorder, happens
when an affected person is not thinking clearly. Thoughts may become disorganized
and it becomes difficult to focus on one topic during a conversation. Speech
can become impossible to understand. Bizarre behavior - such as silliness,
agitation, strange conduct, and inappropriate appearance - can occur at any
time.
Catatonic schizophrenia, which is extremely rare, results in mobility
being impaired, excessive, or unusual.
A person with schizophrenia can also have deficit or negative symptoms.
These refer to emotional and general apathy, which makes someone appear unresponsive
or lazy. "Emotional flattening" - the inability to feel pleasure or
anger - goes hand-in-hand with unchanging facial expressions or trouble making
eye contact. Social withdrawal and decreased attention to personal hygiene and
grooming are typical negative symptoms.
During the acute phase of the disease, psychotic symptoms get worse and influence
the ability to function normally. Stabilization refers to a period when symptoms
are being treated and controlled by medications. There may not be any obvious
psychotic symptoms during this phase, but some people still have problems coping
with day-to-day situations due to negative symptoms.