Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories, including: positive symptoms (psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations), negative symptoms (such as apathy and social withdrawal), and cognitive symptoms (such as memory problems). People who have schizophrenia often require medication to control their most troubling symptoms.

 

An Introduction to the Symptoms of Schizophrenia

The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories:
 
  • Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are unusual thoughts or perceptions that include hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking.
     
  • Negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life. These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for laziness or depression.
     
  • Cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia (or cognitive deficits) are problems with attention, certain types of memory, and the executive functions that allow us to plan and organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder, but are the most disabling in terms of leading a normal life.
     

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are easy-to-spot behaviors not seen in healthy people and usually involve a loss of contact with reality.
 
These positive symptoms of schizophrenia can include:
 
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Thought disorder
  • Disorders of movement.
     
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia can come and go. Sometimes they are severe, and at other times, they may hardly be noticeable, depending on whether the individual is receiving treatment.
(Symptoms of Schizophrenia Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD