Not taking medications as prescribed, the use of alcohol or illicit drugs, and stressful situations tend to increase symptoms. As with any illness, the severity, duration and frequency of symptoms can vary however, in persons with schizophrenia, the incidence of severe psychotic symptoms often decreases as the person becomes older. When the disease is active, it can be characterized by episodes in which the person is unable to distinguish between real and unreal experiences. Examples include impaired emotional expression, decreased speech output, reduced desire to have social contact or to engage in daily activities, and decreased experience of pleasure. Negative symptoms refer to what is abnormally lacking or absent in the person with a psychotic disorder.It includes catatonia, when a person appears as if in a daze with little movement or response to the surrounding environment. When the behavior is severe, it can cause problems in the performance of activities of daily life. Disorganized or abnormal motor behavior are movements that can range from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation or can manifest as repeated movements without purpose.The symptoms are severe enough to cause substantial problems with normal communication. For example, the person may switch from one topic to another or respond with an unrelated topic in conversation. Disorganized thinking and speech refer to thoughts and speech that are jumbled and/or do not make sense.Auditory hallucinations, “hearing voices,” are the most common in schizophrenia and related disorders. They are vivid and clear with an impression similar to normal perceptions. Hallucinations are the experience of hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there.Persecutory (or paranoid) delusions, when a person believes they are being harmed or harassed by another person or group, are the most common. Delusions are fixed false beliefs held despite clear or reasonable evidence that they are not true.When someone experiences a psychotic episode, the person’s thoughts and perceptions are disturbed, and the individual may have difficulty understanding what is real and what is not. Psychosis refers to a set of symptoms characterized by a loss of touch with reality due to a disruption in the way that the brain processes information.People with schizophrenia are more likely to die younger than the general population, largely because of high rates of co-occurring medical conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. Research has shown that schizophrenia affects men and women fairly equally but may have an earlier onset in males.

Most people with schizophrenia live with their family, in group homes or on their own.

While limited mental health resources in the community may lead to homelessness and frequent hospitalizations, it is a misconception that people with schizophrenia end up homeless or living in hospitals. Most people with schizophrenia are not any more dangerous or violent than people in the general population. Schizophrenia does not mean split personality or multiple-personality. The complexity of schizophrenia may help explain why there are misconceptions about the disease. These approaches hold the promise of new, and more effective therapies. Experts also are unraveling the causes of the disease by studying genetics, conducting behavioral research, and using advanced imaging to look at the brain’s structure and function. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, research is leading to innovative and safer treatments. However, with treatment, most symptoms of schizophrenia will greatly improve and the likelihood of a recurrence can be diminished. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation. Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects less than one percent of the U.S.

Symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia