A severe, chronic mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, and behavior
1. Definition & Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5)
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder with:
✅ Two or more core symptoms lasting ≥6 months:
- Delusions (fixed false beliefs)
- Hallucinations (hearing voices is most common)
- Disorganized speech/behavior
- Negative symptoms (emotional flatness, lack of motivation)
✅ Social/occupational dysfunction
✅ Not caused by substances or other medical conditions
Key Note:
- Onset typically in late teens to early 30s (earlier in males).
- “Schizoaffective Disorder” = Schizophrenia + mood episodes.
2. Symptoms Breakdown
| Symptom Type | Examples | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Symptoms (Added behaviors) | Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia | Distort reality |
| Negative Symptoms (Reduced abilities) | Social withdrawal, lack of emotion, poverty of speech | Impair daily functioning |
| Cognitive Symptoms | Poor executive function, memory issues | Affect work/school performance |
Fact:
Negative symptoms are often harder to treat than positive ones.
3. Causes & Risk Factors
- Genetics: 80% heritability (higher if 1st-degree relative has it).
- Brain Differences: Enlarged ventricles, abnormal dopamine/glutamate activity.
- Environmental Triggers:
- Childhood trauma
- Cannabis use (especially in teens)
- Urban upbringing
Myth Buster:
❌ “Schizophrenia = split personality” → False. (That’s Dissociative Identity Disorder).
4. Diagnosis Process
- Rule Out:
- Medical conditions (e.g., brain tumors, lupus)
- Drug-induced psychosis (e.g., meth, LSD)
- Psychiatric Evaluation:
- Clinical interviews (e.g., PANSS scale)
- Family history review
- Brain Imaging (MRI/PET): Sometimes used to exclude other causes.
5. Treatment Options
A. Medications (Lifelong for most patients)
- Antipsychotics:
- 1st-gen (Haloperidol) – Effective but high side effects.
- 2nd-gen (Aripiprazole, Clozapine) – Fewer motor side effects.
B. Psychosocial Therapies
- CBT for psychosis (challenges delusional thoughts).
- Social skills training (improves communication).
- Family therapy (reduces relapse rates).
C. Rehabilitation & Support
- Supported employment programs.
- Housing assistance (group homes for severe cases).
6. Prognosis
- 20-30% achieve significant recovery.
- 50% have episodic symptoms with stability between episodes.
- Early intervention improves outcomes (duration of untreated psychosis matters).
7. Associated Conditions
- Substance abuse (50% self-medicate with drugs/alcohol).
- Depression/Suicide Risk (5-10% die by suicide).
- Metabolic disorders (from antipsychotic side effects).
8. How to Help Someone with Schizophrenia
✅ Encourage treatment adherence (medication stops relapse).
✅ Learn crisis signs (increased paranoia, isolation).
✅ Connect to peer support (NAMI, Schizophrenia Alliance).
❌ Don’t say: “Snap out of it” or “Your delusions aren’t real.”
9. Famous People with Schizophrenia
- John Nash (Nobel mathematician, A Beautiful Mind).
- Eduard Einstein (Son of Albert Einstein).
- Brian Wilson (Beach Boys musician, late-life diagnosis).
10. Key Resources
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): www.nami.org
- Schizophrenia & Related Disorders Alliance (SARDAA): www.sardaa.org
- Books: The Center Cannot Hold (memoir), Surviving Schizophrenia (guide for families).