Symptoms of SCHIZOPHRENIC DISORDERS

The symptoms associated with the various forms of schizophrenia may take months or years to become apparent. The individual involved slowly becomes more withdrawn and introverted, alienating friends and family. Motivation for any activity gradually declines. There may be severe limitations of emotions, or inappropriate expression of emotions. Eventually, delusions and hallucinations occur. There is disordered thinking that is varcharacterized by disorganized or disjointed speech. Delusions develop that may cause the individual involved to feel that other people hear and steal one’s thoughts, or that one is being controlled by others. Paranoid schizophrenia has many of the features cited above. However, the predominant behavior is unwarranted suspicion and paranoid behavior.