Schizophrenia

Paranoid schizophrenia is the most common example of schizophrenia that features paranoia, delusions, and an altered perception of reality. You might hear voices or see things that don’t exist, or experience paranoid thoughts and delusions that disrupt your functioning in daily life. However, paranoid schizophrenia is no longer a recognized diagnosis and is more likely to be referred to as “schizophrenia with paranoia” by mental health professionals.

Although no longer recognized as a diagnosis, catatonic schizophrenia is a rare type of schizophrenia that occurs alongside catatonia, often characterized by rigid posture and movements, or even complete immobility. Someone with catatonic schizophrenia may seem to be in a trance-like state, unable to talk or react to the world around them. Conversely, some people with catatonic schizophrenia may appear agitated and excited, sometimes repeating the words or movements of other people. Or they can display a combination of both withdrawn and agitated symptoms.

Schizophrenia most commonly starts when a person is in their 20s. It might begin with delusional thoughts, such as the belief that other people are watching you. Or you may start to see meaning behind little coincidences that occur throughout the day, building a sense of paranoia. Often, you’ll experience auditory hallucinations, such as hearing the voices of people who aren’t around, or visual hallucinations, such as seeing unexplained movement in your peripheral vision. Depression and intense anxiety can also develop alongside these symptoms.

Schizophrenia can potentially show up with little to no warning. However, in most cases, subtle warning signs offer some early clues. A lack of emotion or expression, social withdrawal, uncharacteristic hostility, depression, changes in sleeping habits, a decrease in focus or memory, and unusual speech patterns or odd statements can point to schizophrenia. In teenagers, a decline in school performance or withdrawal from friends can also be warning signs.

A schizophrenic person might exhibit a wide variety of symptoms that can vary in intensity. They may experience powerful delusions, believing they are being persecuted or controlled by others, for example. Schizophrenia can also come with hallucinations, such as hearing voices. A schizophrenic person may suffer from disorganized speech and thought patterns, shifting quickly between topics as they make loose associations. Or they may repeat words or nonsensical phrases. Disorganized behavior, such as unusual movements or lack of impulse control, might also be apparent. An absence of normal behaviors, such as vocal inflection or facial expression, can make someone with schizophrenia seem withdrawn or unaware.