Symptoms of Schizophrenia

• Disorganized thinking.

•Disturbed Perceptions

•Inappropriate Emotions and Actions

Disorganized Thinking• The thinking of a person with

Schizophrenia is fragmented and bizarre and distorted with false beliefs.

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Disorganized & Delusional Thinking

“This morning when I was at Hillside [Hospital], I was making a movie. I was surrounded by movie stars … I’m Marry Poppins. Is this room painted blue to get me upset? My grandmother died four weeks after my eighteenth birthday.” (Sheehan, 1982)

This monologue illustrates fragmented, bizarre thinking with distorted beliefs – example of

delusions (“I’m Mary Poppins”).

Heather

Disturbed Perceptions• hallucinations- sensory experiences

without sensory stimulation.(Perceiving something that isn’t there.)

Jani – Tormented by hallucinations

Delusions (false beliefs)• Delusions of Persecution

• Delusions of Grandeur

“someone is following me” “I am a king”

Schizophrenia - Simulation

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Disorganized & Delusional Thinking

Many psychologists believe disorganized thoughts occur because of selective attention

failure (fragmented and bizarre thoughts).

Irrelevant and minute stimuli easily distract them. (grooves of a brick or the inflection of a

voice distracts their attention from a whole scene of from the speaker’s meaning.)

• Schizophasia - commonly referred to as word salad,

is characterized by an apparently confused usage of

words with no apparent meaning or relationship

attached to them.

• Example: Q: “Why do people believe in God?”

A: "Because He makes a twirl in life, my

box is broken help me blue elephant.

Isn't lettuce brave? I like electrons,

hello.“

• DSM-IV – no specific code for this disorder

although they include it as a symptom under the

diagnosis of schizophrenia

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Disorganized & Delusional Thinking

Inappropriate Emotions and Actions

• Laugh at inappropriate times.

• Flat Affect • Senseless,

compulsive acts.• Catatonia-

motionless Waxy Flexibility

Positive v. Negative Symptoms

Positive Symptoms

• Presence of inappropriate symptoms

Cognitive, emotional, and

behavioral excesses

Examples of Positive

Symptoms:•Hallucinations

•Bizarre delusions

•Incoherent speech

•Thought broadcasting

•Inappropriate/

Disorganized

behaviors

Positive v. Negative Symptoms

• Cognitive, emotional,

and behavioral deficits

– Examples of Negative

Symptoms

• Loss of

motivation

• Emotional

flatness

• Social withdrawal

• Slowed speech or

no speech

Negative Symptoms

• Absence of appropriate behaviors/responses

Heather-displaying positive symptoms, discussing negative symptoms

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Chronic and Acute Schizophrenia

When schizophrenia is slow to develop (chronic/process) recovery is doubtful. Such

schizophrenics usually display negative symptoms. (ie: withdrawl)

When schizophrenia rapidly develops (acute/reactive) recovery is better. Such schizophrenics usually show positive

symptoms. (respond better to drug therapy)