Question about paranoid Schizophrenia

Hi everybody. I’m new here and I have some questions. I have recently been diagnosed with paranoid Schizophrenia. Besides hearing voices and having delusions, what are the symptoms? Does the paranoid type include cognitive or negative symptoms too? I’ve been doing research and some websites say that it does have negative and cognitive symptoms, but other websites say that it doesn’t.

When I walk, I feel they’re there
When I smile, I feel they’re there
When I laugh, I feel they’re there

And some times I look outside, and they’re there
But there not really there

@rainbowstars

I believe paranoia is a delusion (positive symptom), but that doesn’t preclude someone with paranoia from also having negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

I’ve been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. I have negative and cognitive symptoms.

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Yes paranoid schizophrenia can have negative and cognitive symptoms. That grey area is why categories were removed from the dsm-v in favour of the spectrum model of schizophrenia.

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After I was diagnosed, I started researching and was trying to figure out what fit me and what didn’t. I ended up confused because there is a lot of conflicting information out there.
I recommend being a regular on this forum, honestly. There is a lot to relate to and a lot of support.
I don’t look for definitive answers anymore myself. I know that my diagnosis of “schizophrenia with paranoid aspects” absolutely fits me and plays out daily…
The details of the diagnosis description are less important, imo, than knowing yourself and taking care of yourself.
Symptoms that you have that must be dealt with should be the focus. Finding treatments and functionality is the goal.
Best of luck to you. :heart:

I have schizoaffective disorder but my aunt has schizophrenia paranoid sub type. she has negative, positive and cognitive symptoms. she is paranoid and delusional that a satanic cult has brain washed her kids against her. she also believes she hears the voice of God. and that being on meds ruins her relationship with God.

I have paranoid schizophrenia. It’s possible to have negative and cognitive symptoms. However, just always push yourself to do something that uses your brain and you would be fine.

Schizophrenia in general is supposed to be marked by positive and negative symptoms. A lot of times negative symptoms and cognitive are lumped together as the same thing, sometimes it’s distinguished as a separate category.

According to the DSMV you are not supposed to be diagnosed with sz unless you have both positive and negative symptoms, however there are people on here who were diagnosed but had either no positive or no negative, and some people on here like myself who were not diagnosed with sz despite having both positive and negative symptoms, and that boils down to individual professionals and how they diagnose.

My dr says… that if you don’t fit the criteria in the book to the t it’s a fake diagnosis

Problem with that is that the DSMV is so vague and inclusive that according to it the majority of people in the US are mentally ill, so if you actually followed that book to a T hardly anyone wouldn’t be diagnosed with something.

It’s been criticized and there’s been call for reform for some time now.

Guess it’s open to interpretation then. I’m also in the process of explaining all my symptoms to him and usually when I do he previously just assumed I didn’t have them mostly because I can talk clearly

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I was diagnosed w major depression w psychotic features despite not really matching that diagnosis at all. MDD with psychosis is marked by having episodes of psychosis only during depressive episodes. However I have symptoms of psychosis whether or not I’m depressed. Furthermore I started experiencing psychotic symptoms years before I experienced any symptoms of depression.

I actually line up much more with a schizoaffective diagnosis, which is what a psychiatrist suggested to me when I was in a hospitalization program last. However professionals are hesitant to diagnose me with this due to my developed social skills, decent functioning, friendly and bright demeanor and coherence. (That is not me bragging about myself, that is what I was told by who diagnosed me)

In other words I’m too charismatic to be schizophrenic apparently?! Lol :joy: (I don’t agree with that but from my experience that seems to be the consensus)

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So we have the same dilemma then :roll_eyes: You can charm your way out of any mental illness diagnosis I swear

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Yeah, I was diagnosed with bipolar with psychosis 2 years ago. Dr now says that psychosis is a temporary condition so I can’t be that anymore. Meanwhile the schizophrenic symptoms have remained the whole time, so I’m schizoaffective