Schizophrenia is a disabling thought disorder that typically has a rapid onset. For men, this usually occurs around their 21st birthday, and for women, around age 27. It is characterized by positive, negative and disorganized symptoms.
Positive Symptoms
Positive symptoms include delusions, where a person has irrational beliefs and hallucinations and sees, hears, tastes, smells and feels things that are not real. The term positive symptoms is defined by having thoughts or experiences that should not be there.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms refer to characteristics that are missing, such as low or no motivation, poverty of speech and affective flattening, or lack of expression.
Disorganized Speech
Someone with disorganized speech will talk in long, rambling sentences that don't make sense to anyone but him. This is sometimes called "word salad." He may be talking back to voices he hears.
Disorganized or Catatonic Behavior
Disorganized behavior is characterized by manic-like symptoms and unusual actions. Catatonia can result in rigidity or extreme limberness.
Cognitive Symptoms
Cognitive symptoms refer to how a schizophrenic thinks. He may have trouble understanding things around him, have poor concentration or memory or difficulty putting together his thoughts, feelings and behavior.
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