Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain that affects a person's thoughts, perceptions, and behavior. Affected individuals may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not (psychosis).

Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed during late adolescence or early adulthood in men. The condition tends to be diagnosed slightly later in women. In a very small number of people, it can be diagnosed at a much younger age. The signs and symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, which involve experiencing things that are not there. Hearing voices (auditory hallucination) is the most common type of hallucination that people with schizophrenia experience, but hallucinations may also involve sight, smell, or touch. Strongly held false beliefs (delusions) are also characteristic of schizophrenia. For example, affected individuals may be certain that they are a particular historical figure or that they are being plotted against or controlled by others.

Certain features of schizophrenia can make it difficult for affected individuals to function at school, at work, and in social settings. These features include odd and bizarre thinking and behavior (disorganization), unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses, jumbled speech that cannot be understood, and neglect of personal hygiene. Affected individuals often have difficulty expressing emotions through facial expressions or body movements (flat affect). Cognitive impairment, which can include problems with memory, concentration, and problem-solving, may also make it difficult for people with schizophrenia to live or work independently. Substance abuse and suicidal thoughts and actions are more common in people with schizophrenia than in the general population.

Abnormal movements, such as tremors, facial tics, rigidity, and unusually slow movement (bradykinesia), are often seen in people with schizophrenia. In many cases these abnormal movements are the side effects of the medicines that are prescribed to help control the disorder. However, some affected individuals exhibit movement abnormalities before starting medications, suggesting that the abnormal movements may be part of the disorder itself.

Some people with schizophrenia also have a mood disorder or severe mood symptoms, such as depression or periods of extreme excitement (mania). Mood disorders primarily affect a person's emotional state.