How to know if your schizophrenic

When It Happens and Early Warning Signs

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Schizophrenia usually takes hold after puberty. Most people are diagnosed in their late teens to early 30s.

What Is the Typical Age of Onset for Schizophrenia?

Men and women are equally likely to get this brain disorder, but guys tend to get it slightly earlier. On average, men are diagnosed in their late teens to early 20s. Women tend to get diagnosed in their late 20s to early 30s. People rarely develop schizophrenia before they're 12 or after they're 40.

The Turning Point: Adolescence

An interaction between something in your genes and something in your environment probably causes the disease. Researchers still have a lot to learn about it, but it's likely that many things play a role. Some, like exposure to a virus or malnutrition (according to one theory about causes), might have happened while you were still in your mother's womb. For vulnerable individuals, cannabis use can increase the risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

No one knows exactly why it usually crops up in late adolescence, but there are many theories.

Your brain changes and develops a lot during puberty. These shifts might trigger the disease in people who are at risk for it.

Some scientists believe it has to do with development in an area of the brain called the frontal cortex. Others think it has to do with too many connections between nerve cells being eliminated as the brain matures.

Hormones also play a major role in puberty. One theory is that women get schizophrenia later than men because they go through puberty earlier and the hormone estrogen might somehow protect them. Know how to recognize the signs of schizophrenia in teens.

Early Warning Signs of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can be hard to diagnose for a few reasons. One is that people with the disorder often don't realize they're ill, so they're unlikely to go to a doctor for help.

Another issue is that many of the changes leading up to schizophrenia, called the prodrome, can mirror other normal life changes. For example, a teen who's developing the illness might drop their group of friends and take up with new ones. They may also have trouble sleeping or suddenly start coming home with poor grades.

Some research suggests that if a doctor strongly thinks someone is getting the disorder while still in this early phase, low doses of antipsychotic medication might delay it. More studies need to be done to know whether these drugs work for young people at risk for the disease. Cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and social skills training appear to have clearer benefits for them, at least in the short term, when used early on. Learn more about the prodrome phase of schizophrenia.

How Many People Have Schizophrenia?

About 3.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with schizophrenia. It affects about 1.1% of the world’s population.

Characteristics of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a syndrome. People with schizophrenia have several types of symptoms:

Hallucinations. You hear voices or see or smell things that others say aren't there. The voices might criticize or threaten you. They might tell you to do things you otherwise wouldn't.
Delusions. You believe things that aren't true, even when others show you proof or share facts that explain why your beliefs are wrong. Delusions can seem bizarre to others.
For example, you might think that the TV is sending you special messages or that the radio is broadcasting your thoughts for everyone to hear. You might also feel paranoid and believe that others are trying to harm you.
Thought disorders. You might have trouble organizing your thoughts, and you might speak in a way that's hard for others to understand. Perhaps you stop talking in the middle of a thought because you feel like it’s been taken out of your head. This is called thought withdrawal. Another type of disordered thinking, called thought blocking, happens when someone has a sudden stopping of their flow of thinking and as a consequence they may become silent until a new thought enters their mind.
Movement disorders. You might move your body over and over again as if you're upset, or you might stop moving and responding. Doctors call this catatonia.
Negative symptoms. Maybe you speak in a dull, flat tone, have trouble following through, lack interest in your daily life, and find it hard to keep up relationships. You might appear to be depressed. But while sadness, tearfulness, and other symptoms point to depression, so-called negative symptoms more likely point to a problem with the way the brain works.

Read more about the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Late-Onset Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can develop later in life. Late-onset schizophrenia is diagnosed after the person is 45. People who have it are more likely to have symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. They’re less like to have negative symptoms, disorganized thoughts, impaired learning, or trouble understanding information.

Doctors think genetics may be to blame, just as it is with early-onset schizophrenia. They also think late onset might be a subtype that doesn’t affect the person until the right trigger appears. People with cognitive, vision, or hearing problems, or those who are suspicious, isolated, or reclusive may be more likely to get it.

Early-Onset Schizophrenia

It’s rare for someone younger than 13 to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it can happen. In young children, early-onset schizophrenia often causes:

Talking delays
Late or unusual crawling
Late walking
Unusual movements like arm flapping or rocking

Parents of teens might notice:

Not spending as much time with friends and family

Drop in school performance
Trouble sleeping
Bad mood
Depression
No motivation
Using drugs or alcohol
Odd behavior

Teens are less likely to have delusions but more likely to have visual hallucinations. Find out more on early childhood schizophrenia symptoms.

Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Written by Terri D'Arrigo

Schizophrenia changes how you think, feel, and act. It might affect you differently from someone else. The symptoms can come and go, too. No one has all of them all of the time.

They usually start between ages 16 and 30. Men often get them earlier than women. Oftentimes there is a gradual change in the person before obvious symptoms start. This is sometimes called the prodrome phase.

When the disease is in full swing and symptoms are severe, the person with schizophrenia can't tell when certain ideas and perceptions they have are real or not. This happens less often as they get older.

People with the condition usually aren't aware that they have it until a doctor or counselor tells them. They won't even realize that something is seriously wrong. If they do happen to notice symptoms, like not being able to think straight, they might chalk it up to things like stress or being tired.

If you're concerned that you or someone you know is showing signs of schizophrenia, talk to a doctor or counselor.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Things That Might Start Happening

Positive symptoms are highly exaggerated ideas, perceptions, or actions that show the person can’t tell what’s real from what isn’t. Here the word "positive" means the presence (rather than absence) of symptoms. They can include:

Hallucinations. People with schizophrenia might hear, see, smell, or feel things no one else does. The types of hallucinations in schizophrenia include:
- Auditory. The person most often hears voices in their head. They might be angry or urgent and demand that they do things. It can sound like one voice or many. They might whisper, murmur, or be angry and demanding.
- Visual. Someone might see lights, objects, people, or patterns. Often it’s loved ones or friends who are no longer alive. They may also have trouble with depth perception and distance.
- Olfactory and gustatory. This can include good and bad smells and tastes. Someone might believe they’re being poisoned and refuse to eat.
- Tactile. This creates a feeling of things moving on your body, like hands or insects.
Delusions. These are beliefs that seem strange to most people and are easy to prove wrong. The person affected might think someone is trying to control their brain through TVs or that the FBI is out to get them. They might believe they're someone else, like a famous actor or the president, or that they have superpowers. Types of delusions include:
- Persecutory delusions. The feeling someone is after you or that you’re being stalked, hunted, framed, or tricked.
- Referential delusions. When a person believes that public forms of communication, like song lyrics or a gesture from a TV host, are a special message just for them.
- Somatic delusions. These center on the body. The person thinks they have a terrible illness or bizarre health problem like worms under the skin or damage from cosmic rays.
- Erotomanic delusions. A person might be convinced a celebrity is in love with them or that their partner is cheating. Or they might think people they’re not attracted to are pursuing them.
- Religious delusions. Someone might think they have a special relationship with a deity or that they’re possessed by a demon.
- Grandiose delusions. They consider themselves a major figure on the world stage, like an entertainer or a politician.
Confused thoughts and disorganized speech. People with schizophrenia can have a hard time organizing their thoughts. They might not be able to follow along when you talk to them. Instead, it might seem like they're zoning out or distracted. When they talk, their words can come out jumbled and not make sense.
Trouble concentrating. For example, someone might lose track of what's going on in a TV show as they're watching.
Movement disorders. Some people with schizophrenia can seem jumpy. Sometimes they'll make the same movements over and over again. But sometimes they might be perfectly still for hours at a stretch, which experts call being catatonic. Contrary to popular belief, people with the disease usually aren't violent.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Things That Might Stop Happening

Negative symptoms refer to an absence or lack of normal mental function involving thinking, behavior, and perception. You might notice:

Lack of pleasure. The person may not seem to enjoy anything anymore. A doctor will call this anhedonia.

Trouble with speech. They might not talk much or show any feelings. Doctors call this alogia.
Flattening: The person with schizophrenia might seem like they have a terrible case of the blahs. When they talk, their voice can sound flat, like they have no emotions. They may not smile normally or show usual facial emotions in response to conversations or things happening around them. A doctor might call this affective flattening.
Withdrawal. This might include no longer making plans with friends or becoming a hermit. Talking to the person can feel like pulling teeth: If you want an answer, you have to really work to pry it out of them. Doctors call this apathy.
Struggling with the basics of daily life. They may stop bathing or taking care of themselves.
No follow-through. People with schizophrenia have trouble staying on schedule or finishing what they start. Sometimes they can't get started at all. A doctor might call this avolition.

Depression has some of the same symptoms, too. They can be hard to spot, especially in teens, because even healthy teens can have big emotional swings between highs and lows.

Cognitive Symptoms & Thinking Problems

These symptoms reflect how well the person’s brain learns, stores, and uses information.

Someone with schizophrenia might have a hard time with their working memory. For example, they may not be able to keep track of different kinds of facts at the same time, like a phone number plus instructions.

Along with having trouble paying attention, it can be hard for them to organize their thoughts and make decisions.

Next In Schizophrenia Overview

Schizophrenia Tests

Test for schizophrenia online, test for the definition of schizophrenia - Central Medical Center "Alliance" How prone are you to schizophrenia? An exact answer can only be obtained at a psychiatrist's consultation - make an appointment with a doctor to understand your mental state for sure.

If you're not sure it's time to seek medical help, take our quiz.

note

Test results are approximate, indicative. An experienced doctor can both confirm them and refute them. If you are concerned about your mental state, do not put off a visit to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

No.	Question	Yes	Not
one	I always have someone to meet and spend time with	Yes	Not
2	I believe that life is meaningless	Yes	Not
3	I don't usually ask for help when I'm doing a job.	Yes	Not
four	I often tell my friends: “I just had a wonderful time (spent) this time”	Yes	Not
5	I have a poor or unsatisfactory sex life	Yes	Not
6	Some people think I'm weird or crazy	Yes	Not
7	When others cry or laugh, I remain calm	Yes	Not
eight	Wherever I am (at home, on the street or in society), I am always deeply immersed in my thoughts	Yes	Not
9	I am indifferent to praise	Yes	Not
ten	I am never loving, affectionate or tender	Yes	Not
eleven	I do not like to work in a team and I am not suitable for such work	Yes	Not
12	I love life and enjoy it	Yes	Not
13	I find it difficult to congratulate people on their birthday, holiday or special date	Yes	Not
fourteen	If someone scolds me, humiliates me or does not appreciate me enough, I usually ignore it.	Yes	Not
fifteen	If someone offends or insults me, I know how to protect myself	Yes	Not
16	I don't have much success with the opposite sex	Yes	Not
17	I like spending holidays in the countryside	Yes	Not
eighteen	I would rather fail than struggle	Yes	Not
19	I'm fairly focused on myself	Yes	Not
twenty	I'm not interested in friendship and new acquaintances	Yes	Not
21	It's not easy for me to laugh or smile	Yes	Not
22	I don't like being part of my family, and I am unrestrained	Yes	Not
23	Attending the funeral of people I knew does not affect my emotional state	Yes	Not
24	I feel strong attachment to some people	Yes	Not
25	I know how my friends live, but they don't know much about me and how I live	Yes	Not
26	I prefer to do what I can do alone rather than work in a group	Yes	Not
27	I have few friends - fewer than fingers on one hand (or none at all)	Yes	Not
28	Sometimes I'm just too lazy to do my daily chores	Yes	Not
29	Most conversations bore me or seem boring.	Yes	Not
thirty	I absolutely do not want to get involved in someone or something	Yes	Not
31	It's hard for me to look into the eyes of others	Yes	Not
32	It takes a lot of effort for me to do my normal daily activities.	Yes	Not
33	I am full of energy and vitality	Yes	Not
34	I prefer to always remain unnoticed	Yes	Not
35	I remain indifferent to both good and bad news	Yes	Not
36	Sometimes I feel apathy	Yes	Not

Symptoms of schizophrenia in women and men: How to identify by behavior

0002 Author of the article

Svetlana Bukharova,

Dietitian, fitness instructor

12 years of experience. Diploma of Medical Education: DVS 1724848

All authors

Contents of the article

How to identify a tendency to schizophrenia
What is schizophrenia and what are its symptoms and signs in men
How to understand that you have schizophrenia?
How to identify a schizophrenic by behavior?
Why does schizophrenia occur?
Treatment of schizophrenia
Resources

According to statistics, there are ten people living with schizophrenia per 1000 people. The disease is insidious in that at first it practically does not manifest itself in any way, but over the years it progresses. If you do not notice personality changes in time, then the finale will be deplorable.

In this article we will tell you what types of schizophrenia exist, how to identify the disease and why it is important to start treatment on time.

How to identify susceptibility to schizophrenia

There are many tests on the Internet that allow you to find out how prone a person is to mental disorders. But even if the test results showed a tendency to schizophrenia, this still does not mean anything. Diagnosis of schizophrenia is a rather laborious process that requires a psychiatrist or psychotherapist to understand the specific features of this disease.

The disease is insidious in that even physicians cannot always detect it at an early stage. The disease is not diagnosed by the usual methods - tests, CT, MRI and other studies. It is diagnosed by a psychiatrist on the basis of a conversation and observation according to certain criteria.

Diagnosis algorithms were developed at the beginning of the last century, but are still relevant today. But even if the patient has obvious schizophrenic symptoms, during the initial examination, only a preliminary diagnosis is made - psychosis. A specialist can detect schizophrenia only with long-term observation of the patient.

What is schizophrenia and what are its symptoms and signs in men

Schizophrenia is, in simple words, a persistent mental disorder. It proceeds in a chronic form and can progress. Single attacks of the disease become more frequent over time.

Disorders characteristic of schizophrenia are characterized by the following symptoms: The patient is convinced that all his thoughts are heard by others. In addition, he does not see the consequent-logical connections, symbolic thinking turns on. For example, the patient chooses a bus not by number and direction of travel, but by the color that matches his clothes. It also loses the sense of time.

Delusions and hallucinatory experiences . Brad comes in different forms. For example, with delusions of persecution, it seems to a person that someone is constantly watching him, and with delusions of special significance, the patient is firmly convinced of his greatness, uniqueness, and the presence of superpowers.

Pseudo-hallucinations . The patient hears voices, sees images, smells, which he himself invented.

Emotional-volitional vice . This state is characterized by suppression of the will and complete indifference to what is happening around. The patient is unable to force himself to do elementary things: brush his teeth, take a shower, cook food, clean up the apartment. Emotion is also lost. Such a person is not capable of showing affection, there is no sense of tact. Indifference, coldness, sometimes aggression come to replace them.

At the same time, a person does not see anything unusual in his behavior, and therefore it is important that relatives (family, friends) pay attention to the pathological condition in time and turn to a psychiatrist.

How do you know if you have schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia can take many forms. There are simple, catatonic hebephrenic, paranoid, sluggish types of the disease. Let's dwell on each in more detail.

Simple

It begins in adolescence and is characterized by a sharp change in behavior and interests. From an active, sociable teenager doing well at school, the patient turns into a passive and withdrawn. Delusions and hallucinations appear sporadically.

Catatonic

Physically manifested as numbness, loss of the ability to speak. During an attack, the patient freezes in the position in which he was seconds before it began. This state can last from several minutes to several days. At the same time, the person has a clear consciousness, he remembers everything that happened during the attack. A period of stupor can be replaced by excitement: a person rushes about, makes senseless and aimless repetitive movements.

Hebephrenic

The main symptom of this form of schizophrenia is inappropriate behavior, hypersexuality. The patient behaves like a naughty child, while in conversation he can use obscene language, vulgar jokes, which are accompanied by incoherent speech and incomprehensible actions. The disease proceeds continuously or paroxysmal.

Paranoid

Characterized by the continuous progress of the disease, delirium, hallucinations. The delusion is so real that the patient has not the slightest doubt that everything is really happening. Logic and thinking are unpredictable.

Sluggish schizophrenia

Characterized by a slow course and blurred symptoms.

Symptoms:

disorders of mental activity, perception, paranoia;
hysterical fits;
defiant behavior and unreasonable mood swings;
depersonalization: the patient does not feel like a person with his own will and thinking.
dysmorphomania: seeking out and eliminating non-existent physical defects;
unsteady gait;
trembling of the limbs when agitated;
phobias, anxiety, fatigue;
sluggish schizophrenia is characterized by obsession, ritualism, abstract reflections, unmotivated fears.

How to identify a schizophrenic by behavior?

It has been proven that both women and men are equally affected by schizophrenia. However, there are some gender differences in the course of the disease.

Recognizing the signs of schizophrenia in women by behavior is quite simple. In the early stages, the disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:

Obsession;
Change of mood;
Irritability, unreasonable aggression;
Senseless actions: for example, a woman repeatedly wipes a chair before sitting down;
Desire for pathological cleanliness, the desire to clean the house because of the belief that parasites, impurities, etc. are everywhere.

If relatives notice that a woman is in a depressed mood for a long time, neglects communication, tries to stay alone with herself, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Pregnant women are susceptible to schizophrenia, the disease may also appear after childbirth. So, a young mother refuses to accept a child, refuses her duties.

A distinctive feature of schizophrenia in men is the continuous course of the disease, while in women it is episodic.

Schizophrenia in men is manifested by the following signs:

Duality. It manifests itself in behavior, emotions, actions. The man moves away from the family, is not interested in the life of loved ones.
Change of mood. The patient may cry while watching a melodrama and immediately "explode" at the household for a statement that he did not like.
Passionate state. Excessive emotionality, a sense of physical strength and the ability to "move mountains" is abruptly replaced by apathy, impotence, and depression.

As a rule, relatives associate all the symptoms described above with fatigue, overwork, nervous tension, but not with the onset of schizophrenia.

They begin to sound the alarm only when there are already obvious signs of the disease, which were mentioned above. Plus, in men, delusions manifest themselves in the form of delusions of persecution, delusions of relationships (a man is sure that those around him and his family condemn his appearance, “whistle” behind his back, fix his actions and movements), delusions of jealousy (based on an obsession, a man reproaches his spouse for infidelity, finding only signs that seem to be true to him.This is the so-called "Othello's syndrome".

Men with schizophrenia usually suffer from auditory hallucinations, while women also experience visual, tactile and olfactory hallucinations.

Why does schizophrenia occur?

According to psychiatrists, almost every person has prerequisites for illness. Complex relationships in the family, excessive criticism, overprotection, frequent conflicts, and stress lead to a breakdown in mental balance.

Until now, scientists have not established the exact causes of the disease. But the main factor is hereditary predisposition. If both parents had an ailment, then in half the cases the child will also get sick.

Also referred to as provoking the development of the disease:

consequences of viral infections: meningitis, encephalitis;
alcoholism and drug addiction;
severe emotional stress;
children's psychological trauma.

Only a doctor can diagnose schizophrenia. Online services and popular Internet tests for schizophrenia cannot diagnose this complex disease. Moreover, such a diagnosis can only do harm, increasing anxiety in people with an unstable psyche.

Depression, psychosis, can be independent pathologies or precursors of schizophrenia, because the symptoms of these diseases are similar. Modern methods of diagnostics and treatment allow to achieve stable remission, the patient continues a full life. But this will require long-term observation by a group of doctors, often in a psychiatric clinic.

Treatment of schizophrenia

There is no cure for schizophrenia. If the treatment is chosen correctly, then the prognosis will be favorable. The patient can live in a normal rhythm, work, have a family. At the same time, take medication regularly and visit a psychiatrist. With exacerbations, the patient can be admitted to the hospital.

The two main treatments for schizophrenia

psychotherapy
drug therapy

aim to reduce the frequency of seizures and prolong periods of stabilization of the mental state.

Antipsychotics (neuroleptics) are primarily used as medicines. They act on dopamine receptors and cope with hallucinations and delusions. They have a sedative, hypnotic and anti-anxiety effect, improve cognitive functions. Antipsychotics are taken for a long time, even during the period of stabilization.

Antipsychotics:

Aminazine, Chlorpromazine
Moditen depot, Fluphenazine
Haloperidol, Senorm
Perphenazine, Etaperazine
Modern antipsychotics:
Azaleprol, Clozasten, Clozapine
Olanzapine, Egolanza
Invega, Paliperidone, Trevicta
Ketilept, Quetiapin
Risperidone, Rispolept, Risset
Zeldox

Sources

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Elibrary.ru Cognitive impairment and the problem of social maladaptation in schizophrenia. Kobzova MP, Mental Health Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Cyberleninka.ru Gender differences in the development of schizophrenia. Bobrovnikova A.S., Tarasova S.Yu., Yakimova V.V.
Cyberleninka.ru Clinical features of paranoid schizophrenia in women. Raev T.S.
Elibrary.ru Psychological adaptation to the illness of women with the first bouts of schizophrenia. Khanko A.V., Kondyukhova T.N. Psychiatric hospital No. 1 named after. P.P. Kashchenko, Leningrad State University. A.S. Pushkin
Elibrary.ru Pathological interests and hobbies in schizophrenia. Sergeev I.I., Malinochka S.A. Russian State Medical University, Moscow
Elibrary.ru A method for diagnosing schizophrenia in men. Smirnov VK, Ovsyannikov SA, Shamov SA
Elibrary.ru Treatment of sluggish schizophrenia.
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