Questions About Schizophrenia

If schizophrenia does not run in the family,can you still develop it? Yes

What’s the earliest age a female can develop schizophrenia? There is childhood onset schizophrenia, so when you’re a child, but it is most common in college age (so 18-24)

How extreme can it get? Well at it’s bad end you’ve got people killing others because the voices told them to and people who have to live in facilities their entire lives. But that is really worst case scenario. With antipsychotics there is some hope of relatively regular life.

What are the types of schizophrenia (And definition,please)? a. Paranoid: I. Delusions and hallucinations • Grandeur or persecution ii. Intact cognitive skills iii. Intact affect I’ve. Little to no disorganized behavior v. Best prognosis vi. Stronger familial link?

b. Catatonic: I. Unusual motor responses ii. Odd mannerisms • Echolalia: repeat or mimic words of others • Echopraxia: repeat or mimic movements of others iii. Possible subtypes • Negative withdrawal: immobility, posturing, mutism • Automatic: routine obedience, waxy flexibility • Repetitive/echo: grimacing, perseveration, echolalia • Agitated/resistive: excitement, impulsivity, combativeness

c. Disorganized: I. Marked disruptions • Speech • Behavior ii. Flat or inappropriate affect iii. Hallucinations and delusions: organized around a theme • Fragmented I’ve. Develops early v. Chronic vi. Few remissions

d. Undifferentiated: I. Do not fit into other subtypes ii. Major symptoms iii. Fail to meet criteria

e. Residual: I. One or more past episode (not current) ii. No major symptoms iii. Persistent, less extreme symptoms • Negative or bizarre beliefs • Social withdrawal • Inactivity

How long does it take to diagnose? I’m not sure what you’re asking. How long does it take if the person goes in and is displaying symptoms, or how long does it take for someone to notice the symptoms?

How do doctors diagnose it? It’s a complicated process, they generally have to first make sure the psychotic symptoms arent part of a physical disorder or related to medications, and then rule out any other disorders (like bipolar, major depression with psychotic features etc), and then basically using differential diagnosis like they would with any other mental disorder, ask a bunch of questions (I dont know if there’s any thing else they do)

How will it affect someone’s lifestyle? Typical course of schizophrenia throughout the lifespan.

a. Course = Chronic I. Moderate-to-severe lifetime impairment ii. Life expectancy = less than average iii. Females: Later age of onset, better outcomes

b. Early childhood clinical features I. Mild physical abnormalities ii. Poor motor coordination iii. Mild cognitive problems I’ve. Social problems

c. Prodromal phase I. 85% experience ii. 1-2 years before serious symptoms iii. Less severe, yet unusual • Ideas of reference • Magical thinking • Illusions • Increased anxiety/irritability • Attention problems • Social withdrawal • Obsessive behaviors d. Diagnosis and treatment typically occur 1-2 years after symptom onset e. Relapse and recovery f. Most (78%) experience several episodes g. Poor overall prognosis h. High suicide rates