Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior and emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function.
In this early phase of schizophrenia, you may seem eccentric, unmotivated, emotionless, and reclusive to others. You may start to isolate yourself, begin neglecting your appearance, say peculiar things, and show a general indifference to life.
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.
If you're experiencing unwanted thoughts about losing your mind, becoming psychotic, or developing schizophrenia, it may be a sign of schizophrenia OCD. You might find yourself constantly questioning the state of your mind, which can cause you to be overly focused on feeling different than usual.
This can include disorganized thinking, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, agitation, or a loss of interest in activities. These symptoms can affect almost every aspect of a person's life. That's why it's 10/10 important you talk with a healthcare professional if you suspect you or a loved one has schizophrenia.
Risk factors
Having a family history of schizophrenia. Some pregnancy and birth complications, such as malnutrition or exposure to toxins or viruses that may impact brain development. Taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs during teen years and young adulthood.
If you, or someone you know, are described as having “borderline schizophrenia”, it could point toward mild symptoms, unclear symptoms, or a combination of symptoms. The best thing you can do is to seek clarification from a licensed professional.
Borderline schizophrenia is held to be a valid entity that should be included in the DSM-III. It is a chronic illness that may be associated with many other symptoms but is best characterized by perceptual-cognitive abnormalities. It has a familial distribution and a genetic relationship with schizophrenia.
As is the case with many major neuropsychiatric illnesses, the typical age of onset for schizophrenia is in late adolescence or early twenties, with a slightly later onset in females.
In most people with schizophrenia, symptoms generally start in the mid- to late 20s, though it can start later, up to the mid-30s. Schizophrenia is considered early onset when it starts before the age of 18. Onset of schizophrenia in children younger than age 13 is extremely rare.
It is possible to experience hallucinations while being aware that they aren't real. As with delusions, this would require a meta-awareness of the unreality of what appears to be a real experience.
You could have: Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't there. Delusions: Mistaken but firmly held beliefs that are easy to prove wrong, like thinking you have superpowers, are a famous person, or people are out to get you. Disorganized speech: Using words and sentences that don't make sense to others.
Research has shown that untreated schizophrenia can lead to neurological damage. Individuals dealing with schizophrenia may also have thoughts of harming themselves or others. Persistent paranoid delusions, especially when left untreated, may eventually lead someone to act on those thoughts.
Can stress cause schizophrenia? Stress isn't considered to be a direct cause of schizophrenia, but it could trigger an episode of psychosis in a person who's already vulnerable. 2016 research suggests that the condition can be caused by genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
Functional deficits such as emotional flattening, social withdrawal, and a lack of motivation and pleasure are usually prominent. The most commonly reported psychotic features are auditory hallucinations and delusions.
Although some people with schizophrenia suffer anxiety, it is impossible for people with anxiety disorders to develop schizophrenia as a result of their anxiety disorder. Anxiety sufferers should be reassured that they cannot develop schizophrenia as part of their anxiety state, no matter how bad the anxiety becomes.
Simple schizophrenia
Negative symptoms (such as slow movement, poor memory, lack of concentration and poor hygiene) are most prominent early and worsen, while positive symptoms (such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking) are rarely experienced.
A person with schizophrenia may experience delusional thinking, including paranoid thoughts. It may not be possible for the person to distinguish between this and regular thinking. Schizophrenia affects a person's perception and can involve hallucinations and delusions.