Definition
- Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness characterized by symptoms eg hallucinations, disorganized thinking, loss of goal-directed behaviors and deterioration in social role functioning
Epidemiology
- It has approximately 0.3-0.7% lifetime prevalence but there are
reported variation by race/ethnicity, across countries and by geographic
origin
- In a 2012 incidence review in England, there is a pooled incidence 15 per 100,000 person between 1950 and 2009 with rates varied according to age and gender
- It has a lifetime risk of suicide of 7%
- It is equally prevalent in men and women
Signs and Symptoms
Positive Symptoms
- Delusions
- Formal thought disorder
- Distorted perceptions/perceptual disturbances
Negative Symptoms
- Flat or blunted emotions
- Lack of motivation or energy
- Lack of pleasure or interest in things
- Limited speech
Disorganized Symptoms
- Confused thinking and disorganized speech
- Disorganized behavior
Cognitive Symptoms
- Impairment in verbal fluency, memory, executive functioning