Schizophrenia

Symptoms:

Catatonic type:

• motor disturbances
• stupor
• negativism
• rigidity
• excitement
• may be unable to take care of personal needs
• decreased sensitivity to painful stimulus

Paranoid type:

• delusional thoughts of a persecution or grandiose nature
• anxiety
• anger
• violence
• argumentative

Disorganized type:

• incoherence (not understandable)
• regressive behavior
• flat affect
• delusions
• hallucinations
• inappropriate laughter
• mannerisms
• social withdrawal

Undifferentiated type:

• may have symptoms of more than one subtype of schizophrenia

Residual type:

• the prominent symptoms of the illness have abated but some features, such as hallucinations and flat affect, may remain

Signs and tests:

The diagnosis of this disorder is difficult and controversial. The following factors may aid in the diagnosis but do not confirm it:

• developmental background
• genetic and family history
• current stress factors for the affected individual
• level of functioning prior to illness
• course of illness
• response to therapy
• CT scan of the head may reveal enlarged ventricles in the brain