We are both fascinated and often frightened by schizophrenia, a mental health condition that affects around 3.5 million Americans. While we may be most familiar with Hollywood’s depiction of the delusional, dangerous schizophrenia patient, in reality this is a serious and complicated health condition that affects individuals in different ways. There are actually five different forms of schizophrenia. Here is what you should know about each.
According to Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America, schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Individuals with this condition often have trouble distinguishing reality from their delusions and as a result may become withdrawn and have trouble associating with others and dealing with social situations. The true cause of schizophrenia is not clear, but researchers believe it is brought about by a combination of genetic disposition and imbalances in brain chemistry.
Paranoid Schizophrenia
Paranoid schizophrenia is the most common form of schizophrenia, Medical News Today reports. In this subtype, patients falsely believe that a person or some individuals are plotting against them or members of their family. Most individuals with paranoid schizophrenia have auditory delusions, such as hearing voices, but some may have delusions that they are more powerful than they really are. These individuals may also have an unhealthy preoccupation with devising ways to protect themselves. Individuals with paranoid schizophrenia are often more functional than individuals with other subtypes of the condition.
Disorganized Schizophrenia
According to Medical News Today, disorganized schizophrenia, also known as hebephrenia, is characterized by incoherent and illogical thoughts and behaviors. These individuals often display disinhibited, agitated, and purposeless behavior. Disorganized schizophrenia is believed to be the most severe form of schizophrenia because individuals with this condition find it very difficult to function normally and perform daily tasks such as feeding and bathing themselves. They may also display very strange and often inappropriate behavior, such as wearing several layers of clothing during a very warm day or exhibit luid sexual behavior in public.
Catatonic Schizophrenia
Catatonic schizophrenia is characterized by a dramatic reduction in activity, to the point that voluntary movement completely stops, Psych Central reported. These individuals may also exhibit dramatic increases in movement during a state known as catatonic excitement. Catatonic schizophrenia patients may voluntarily assume unusual body positions, or manifest unusual facial contortions or limb movements. Other symptoms include parrot-like repetition speech and and mimicking others’ movements.
Residual Schizophrenia
Residual schizophrenia describes when most of a patient’s symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions or idiosyncratic behaviors have severely lessened, sometimes to the point where they are no longer noticeable. According to Psych Central, residual schizophrenia is diagnosed after at least a year of minimal negative schizophrenia symptoms, but Mental Health America also reports that individuals with residual schizophrenia also often have no interest or motivation in life.
Schizoaffective Disorder
According to Mental Health America, schizoaffective disorder is when a person has symptoms of both schizophrenia and a major mood disorder such as depression, mood disorder, or mania. It is more rare than other types of schizophrenia, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that it is seen in only about 0.3 percent of the population. Unfortunately, many people with schizoaffective disorder are incorrectly diagnosed at first with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia because it shares symptoms of multiple mental health conditions.
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