What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Psychiatrists differ from so-called positive symptoms, which are not seen in healthy people, and called negative symptoms, which are a weakening of psychological capabilities normally found. Often both types of symptoms coexist. The predominance of one or the other will influence the evolution of the disease and treatment choices.
Whatever the symptoms expressed, schizophrenics are struggling to perform the tasks of daily life. Their thinking is not clear, their relationships with others become difficult, they have difficulty controlling their emotions and make decisions.
Called positive symptoms
Hallucinations
The patient receives sensations that do not exist. Hallucinations can involve all the senses, hearing, sight, smell or cenesthetic (feeling electricity). Auditory hallucinations are the most common. Patients with schizophrenia may hear voices that comment on his behavior, the judge, abuse, warn of imaginary dangers or order him to perform certain acts.
Delusions
They may occur occasionally or be present at all times. Delirium may develop around different themes (persecution, megalomania, mysticism, etc..) Without there necessarily being a link between the various delusions. The schizophrenic believes in his delirium, it is impossible to reason with. In one third of cases, patients suffer from symptoms of paranoid, feel persecuted, cheated, harassed, spied on, or feel that the others to guess their thoughts.
Disorders of thought and language
The schizophrenic is unable to organize his ideas, he has no logical reasoning, his speech became incoherent. His mind can remain long fixed on an idea, and stray thoughts hinder the conduct of its reasoning. It can stop dead in the middle of a sentence and start a new unrelated to the previous one. It may also use a language that does not follow the usual rules of grammar and syntax and invent words. It also happens that the patient is no longer able to correctly interpret yet common words. Communicating with him is extremely difficult.
The agitation and psychomotor
A multitude of attitudes can be found in schizophrenics, such as impulsive gestures, repeated movements (swinging, scratching compulsively) faces (tightened jaws closed eyelids), smiles or laughs paradoxical unrelated position. Schizophrenics may be constantly moving, always active, or otherwise sit rigid, silent and motionless for hours.
The so-called negative symptoms
The schizophrenic may seem callous, cold, distant, emotionless. His ability to express his feelings is greatly diminished. He is reluctant to engage in a conversation. In reality, it is often plagued by intense emotions and conflicting impulses. It usually has a heightened sensitivity and a strong need for affection, but there is a complete mismatch between his emotions and how he expresses them.
Demotivation
Schizophrenics often lack energy, initiative, and have difficulty engaging in any form of activity. They can spend days doing nothing, even neglecting personal hygiene. Do not confuse these symptoms with simple laziness.
The apathy and social withdrawal
The schizophrenic tendency to withdraw into himself and protect against conflicts related to poor communication by taking refuge in solitude. Compounded by lack of motivation, this symptom can cause indifference and total lack of interest in the outside world.
Depersonalization
It is the loss of the sense of self which is often accompanied by anxiety. The schizophrenic feels that his body is separated from his person, or that its members may come off. This fear can lead to attitudes of self reflection: the patient keep his hands carefully, spends hours in front of a mirror to look at his face, feels parts of his body.
What are the different forms of schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia can be in various forms and of varying severity.
Simple schizophrenia
The patient exhibits emotional coldness, seems unable to express his feelings, marks a disinterest in others, revels in solitude. Meanwhile, it has strange behavior, odd beliefs, and collects unusual things.
Paranoid schizophrenia
Delusions are present, sometimes permanent. This form of schizophrenia is the most common and it responds well to treatment that allows the patient to resume a satisfactory social and professional life.
The héboïdophrénie
This form of schizophrenia is characterized by antisocial behavior of patients: crime, theft, assault, vagrancy, drug addiction, for example. It is frequently found in people with social disruption. Delirium is characterized by episodes.
The hebephrenia
It represents 20% of schizophrenia. The hebephrenic patients have few delusions. They live in a deep downturn, spend a lot of time in bed or watching TV. Their language is inconsistent, they seem indifferent to the outside world despite high anxiety. These patients often refuse treatment.
Catatonic schizophrenia
The patient does not respond to stress. It can remain prostrate in a fetal position, without making the slightest movement. It can also repeat, like an echo, the last words of the sentences he hears, or imitate the actions they observe in others.
Schizo-affective disorders
The person with schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia or dysthymic) shows signs of schizophrenia accompanied by signs of depression or mania. These disorders resemble bipolar disorder but they are distinguished by the presence of delusions or hallucinations for at least two weeks.
Psychiatrists differ from so-called positive symptoms, which are not seen in healthy people, and called negative symptoms, which are a weakening of psychological capabilities normally found. Often both types of symptoms coexist. The predominance of one or the other will influence the evolution of the disease and treatment choices.
Whatever the symptoms expressed, schizophrenics are struggling to perform the tasks of daily life. Their thinking is not clear, their relationships with others become difficult, they have difficulty controlling their emotions and make decisions.
Called positive symptoms
Hallucinations
The patient receives sensations that do not exist. Hallucinations can involve all the senses, hearing, sight, smell or cenesthetic (feeling electricity). Auditory hallucinations are the most common. Patients with schizophrenia may hear voices that comment on his behavior, the judge, abuse, warn of imaginary dangers or order him to perform certain acts.
Delusions
They may occur occasionally or be present at all times. Delirium may develop around different themes (persecution, megalomania, mysticism, etc..) Without there necessarily being a link between the various delusions. The schizophrenic believes in his delirium, it is impossible to reason with. In one third of cases, patients suffer from symptoms of paranoid, feel persecuted, cheated, harassed, spied on, or feel that the others to guess their thoughts.
Disorders of thought and language
The schizophrenic is unable to organize his ideas, he has no logical reasoning, his speech became incoherent. His mind can remain long fixed on an idea, and stray thoughts hinder the conduct of its reasoning. It can stop dead in the middle of a sentence and start a new unrelated to the previous one. It may also use a language that does not follow the usual rules of grammar and syntax and invent words. It also happens that the patient is no longer able to correctly interpret yet common words. Communicating with him is extremely difficult.
The agitation and psychomotor
A multitude of attitudes can be found in schizophrenics, such as impulsive gestures, repeated movements (swinging, scratching compulsively) faces (tightened jaws closed eyelids), smiles or laughs paradoxical unrelated position. Schizophrenics may be constantly moving, always active, or otherwise sit rigid, silent and motionless for hours.
The so-called negative symptoms
The schizophrenic may seem callous, cold, distant, emotionless. His ability to express his feelings is greatly diminished. He is reluctant to engage in a conversation. In reality, it is often plagued by intense emotions and conflicting impulses. It usually has a heightened sensitivity and a strong need for affection, but there is a complete mismatch between his emotions and how he expresses them.
Demotivation
Schizophrenics often lack energy, initiative, and have difficulty engaging in any form of activity. They can spend days doing nothing, even neglecting personal hygiene. Do not confuse these symptoms with simple laziness.
The apathy and social withdrawal
The schizophrenic tendency to withdraw into himself and protect against conflicts related to poor communication by taking refuge in solitude. Compounded by lack of motivation, this symptom can cause indifference and total lack of interest in the outside world.
Depersonalization
It is the loss of the sense of self which is often accompanied by anxiety. The schizophrenic feels that his body is separated from his person, or that its members may come off. This fear can lead to attitudes of self reflection: the patient keep his hands carefully, spends hours in front of a mirror to look at his face, feels parts of his body.
What are the different forms of schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia can be in various forms and of varying severity.
Simple schizophrenia
The patient exhibits emotional coldness, seems unable to express his feelings, marks a disinterest in others, revels in solitude. Meanwhile, it has strange behavior, odd beliefs, and collects unusual things.
Paranoid schizophrenia
Delusions are present, sometimes permanent. This form of schizophrenia is the most common and it responds well to treatment that allows the patient to resume a satisfactory social and professional life.
The héboïdophrénie
This form of schizophrenia is characterized by antisocial behavior of patients: crime, theft, assault, vagrancy, drug addiction, for example. It is frequently found in people with social disruption. Delirium is characterized by episodes.
The hebephrenia
It represents 20% of schizophrenia. The hebephrenic patients have few delusions. They live in a deep downturn, spend a lot of time in bed or watching TV. Their language is inconsistent, they seem indifferent to the outside world despite high anxiety. These patients often refuse treatment.
Catatonic schizophrenia
The patient does not respond to stress. It can remain prostrate in a fetal position, without making the slightest movement. It can also repeat, like an echo, the last words of the sentences he hears, or imitate the actions they observe in others.
Schizo-affective disorders
The person with schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia or dysthymic) shows signs of schizophrenia accompanied by signs of depression or mania. These disorders resemble bipolar disorder but they are distinguished by the presence of delusions or hallucinations for at least two weeks.
