Outline the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition. In men the condition usually begins between 15 and 30 years of age and in women, schizophrenia usually occurs later, beginning between 25 and 30 years of age. If you have schizophrenia, your brain works differently to other people's brains as it affects your thoughts, emotions and the way you behave. The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown; however, most experts believe that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Positive symptoms, which represent a change in behaviour or thoughts, include: • Delusions, which are an unshakable belief in something that is very unlikely, bizarre or obviously untrue. One of the delusions experienced in schizophrenia is paranoid delusions, where an individual believes that something, or someone, is deliberately trying to mislead, manipulate, hurt or, in some cases, even kill them. Another common delusion is the delusion of grandeur, which is where an individual believes that they have some imaginary power or authority, such as thinking that they are on a mission from God or that they are a secret agent. • Hallucinations, which usually take the form of hearing voices that are not there. These voices are normally critical and unfriendly. Additionally, some people with schizophrenia may also see, smell, taste and feel things that are not there. • Catatonic or disorganised behaviour, where an individual behaves in ways that seem inappropriate or strange to the norms of society. • Disorganised speech, often known as a ‘word salad’, where an individual speaks in ways that are completely incomprehensible. For instance, sentences might not make sense, or topic of conversation changes with little or no connection between sentences. Negative symptoms, which represent a lack of behaviour or thoughts, include: • A lack, or 'flattening', of emotions, where a person’s voice becomes dull and monotonous and their face takes on a constant blank appearance. • An inability to enjoy things that they used to enjoy. • Apathy, where they have a lack of motivation to follow through any plans and neglect household chores, such as washing the dishes or cleaning their clothes. • Social withdrawal, where they find it hard or become reluctant to speak to people.

Outline the Clinical Characteristics of Schizophrenia

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Outline the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition. In men the condition usually begins between 15 and 30 years of age and in women, schizophrenia usually occurs later, beginning between 25 and 30 years of age. If you have schizophrenia, your brain works differently to other people's brains as it affects your thoughts, emotions and the way you behave. The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown; however, most experts believe that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Positive symptoms, which represent a change in behaviour or thoughts, include:• Delusions, which are an unshakable belief in something that is very unlikely, bizarre or obviously untrue. One of the delusions experienced in schizophrenia is paranoid delusions, where an individual believes that something, or someone, is deliberately trying to mislead, manipulate, hurt or, in some cases, even kill them. Another common delusion is the delusion of grandeur, which is where an individual believes that they have some imaginary power or authority, such as thinking that they are on a mission from God or that they are a secret agent.• Hallucinations, which usually take the form of hearing voices that are not there. These voices are normally critical and unfriendly. Additionally, some people with schizophrenia may also see, smell, taste and feel things that are not there.• Catatonic or disorganised behaviour, where an individual behaves in ways that seem inappropriate or strange to the norms of society.• Disorganised speech, often known as a ‘word salad’, where an individual speaks in ways that are completely incomprehensible. For instance, sentences might not make sense, or topic of conversation changes with little or no connection between sentences.

Negative symptoms, which represent a lack of behaviour or thoughts, include:• A lack, or 'flattening', of emotions, where a person’s voice becomes dull and monotonous and their face takes on a constant blank appearance.• An inability to enjoy things that they used to enjoy.• Apathy, where they have a lack of motivation to follow through any plans and neglect household chores, such as washing the dishes or cleaning their clothes.• Social withdrawal, where they find it hard or become reluctant to speak to people.

According to DSM IV all people diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia must have one or more of the clinical characteristics outlined above present for at least 6 months or have produced a marked deterioration in ability to function adequately on a daily basis.However, if an individual is having extreme hallucinations, no other symptoms have to be present for them to be diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia.