Schizo means "split" and phrena in this case refers to "the mind". Schizophrenia can be interpreted to mean “splitting of the mind”, it does not refer to a split personality, like some media sources might portray, but rather schizophrenia describes a scattered or fragmented pattern of thinking.
Schizophrenia’s actually a syndrome meaning there are all sorts of symptoms that might be associated with it and different patients might experience different symptoms, the symptoms can be broadly categorized into three major areas- Positive, Negative and Cognitive Symptoms.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Most human symptoms from any illness or extreme versions of a normal psychological process for example everyone has a Heartbeat and tachycardia is a fast heartbeat everyone has a normal body temperature, but during a fever that temperature is higher)
Positive Symptoms
In schizophrenia, Patients have positive symptoms which are positive in the sense that they are helpful but positive in the sense that they are some new features that don't have some normal or physiological counterpart.
These are the psychotic symptoms so delusions and hallucinations disorganized speech and disorganized or catatonic behavior none of which occur physiological.
Delusions are false belief that the patient might feel very strong about so much so that they won't change their mind Even if you give the evidence against it
There are all sorts of different illusions like for example a delusion of control where somebody thinks that some outside force or person or thing is controlling their actions. they could also be delusions of reference where someone might think that significant remarks are directed at them.
Hallucinations are a second type of positive symptom, and can be any kind of sensation that is not actually there; including visible but also including auditory sensations like hearing voices or commands .
A third type is disorganized speech and example being something like a word “salad” which seems like a random jumbling of words or phrases like pencil, dog, hat, copy, blue!!
Disorganized behavior on the other hand would be like if they exhibit bizarre or silly behavior. That's out of context and doesn't seem to have much of a purpose like for example- wearing Multiple layers of jacket on a hot summer day. also sometimes the behavior is described as “catatonic” which has to do with their movements, posture and responsiveness.
Negative Symptoms
Delusions are false belief that the patient might feel very strong about so much so that they won't change their mind Even if you give the evidence against it
There are all sorts of different illusions like for example a delusion of control where somebody thinks that some outside force or person or thing is controlling their actions. they could also be delusions of reference where someone might think that significant remarks are directed at them.
Hallucinations are a second type of positive symptom, and can be any kind of sensation that is not actually there; including visible but also including auditory sensations like hearing voices or commands .
A third type is disorganized speech and example being something like a word “salad” which seems like a random jumbling of words or phrases like pencil, dog, hat, copy, blue!!
Disorganized behavior on the other hand would be like if they exhibit bizarre or silly behavior. That's out of context and doesn't seem to have much of a purpose like for example- wearing Multiple layers of jacket on a hot summer day. also sometimes the behavior is described as “catatonic” which has to do with their movements, posture and responsiveness.
Negative Symptoms
When there is this reduction or removal of normal processes, and this is like a decrease in emotions they can express, or loss of interest in things they once found interesting.
One type of negative symptom is called flat affect, where they don’t respond with an emotion or reaction that would seem appropriate, like they saw something very unexpected like a small monkey playing in their living room, they might simply sit and watch them idly as if nothing was happening.
Another type of alogia, or poverty of speech which is a lack of content in speech, so like if somebody asked them “do you have any children?”, they might respond with yes, instead of “yes, one boy and a girl”.
A third type of the symptom is avolition which is this decrease in motivation to complete certain goals, so someone might stay at home for a long period of time, without trying to reach out to friends or find work.
Cognitive Symptoms
One type of negative symptom is called flat affect, where they don’t respond with an emotion or reaction that would seem appropriate, like they saw something very unexpected like a small monkey playing in their living room, they might simply sit and watch them idly as if nothing was happening.
Another type of alogia, or poverty of speech which is a lack of content in speech, so like if somebody asked them “do you have any children?”, they might respond with yes, instead of “yes, one boy and a girl”.
A third type of the symptom is avolition which is this decrease in motivation to complete certain goals, so someone might stay at home for a long period of time, without trying to reach out to friends or find work.
Cognitive Symptoms
Include things like not being able to remember things, learn new things, or understand others easily. These symptoms are more subtle though and more difficult to notice and might only be detected if they have really specific tests performed.
Phases Of Schizophrenia
People with Schizophrenia seems to cycle three phases, typically in order-
During Prodromal Phase- Patient’s might become withdrawn and spend most of their time alone and often this seems similar to other mental disorders like anxiety and depression disorders.
During, Active phase patient phase more severe symptoms like delusions and hallucinations etc. Following an Active phase, patients often enter into residual phase, where they might exhibit Cognitive symptoms like not being able to concentrate or becoming withdrawn with Prodromal Phase.
Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
For an official diagnosis of Schizophrenia patients need to be diagnosed with any two of the following - Delusions, Hallucinations, Disorganized speech, Disorganized Behavior or Catatonic behavior or negative symptoms and at least one of them has to be among these only.
Although for a diagnosis, signs of these disturbances must be ongoing for 6 months, meaning they are likely in one phase or another for 6 months , but these must be at least one month of active phase symptoms.
Written By - Vanshu Verma
Phases Of Schizophrenia
People with Schizophrenia seems to cycle three phases, typically in order-
During Prodromal Phase- Patient’s might become withdrawn and spend most of their time alone and often this seems similar to other mental disorders like anxiety and depression disorders.
During, Active phase patient phase more severe symptoms like delusions and hallucinations etc. Following an Active phase, patients often enter into residual phase, where they might exhibit Cognitive symptoms like not being able to concentrate or becoming withdrawn with Prodromal Phase.
Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
For an official diagnosis of Schizophrenia patients need to be diagnosed with any two of the following - Delusions, Hallucinations, Disorganized speech, Disorganized Behavior or Catatonic behavior or negative symptoms and at least one of them has to be among these only.
Although for a diagnosis, signs of these disturbances must be ongoing for 6 months, meaning they are likely in one phase or another for 6 months , but these must be at least one month of active phase symptoms.
Written By - Vanshu Verma
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