PHASES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Prodromal Acute / Active Residual

“full blown”

- withdraw socially, little by little, - hallucinations - resembles schizophrenia

with no apparent triggering
event present
- uncharacteristically anxious
- have difficulty making decisions
and start to have trouble
concentrating and paying
attention
- paranoid delusions
- extremely disorganized speech
and behaviors
- obviously psychotic
prodrome
- obvious psychosis has subsided
- negative symptoms, such as
social withdrawal, a lack of
emotion, and
uncharacteristically low energy
levels
- although frank psychotic
behaviors and vocalizations
have disappeared, the patient
may continue to hold strange
beliefs
Negative Symptoms
• Apparent lack of emotion or small emotional range
• Reduced ability to plan and follow-through with activities
• Neglect of personal hygiene
• Social withdrawal, decrease in talkativeness
• Loss of motivations
Positive Symptoms
• Delusions – falsely held beliefs usually due to a distorted perception
or experience. Delusions are the most common symptom of
schizophrenia.
• Thought disorder – difficulty organizing and expressing thoughts. This
might result in stopping mid-sentence or speaking nonsensically;
including the making up of words.
• Disorganized behavior – unusual and inappropriate behavior. This
might be childlike behavior or unpredictable agitation.
• Movement disorder – agitated or repeated movements. Catatonia
(non-moving and non-responsive) is also possible
Cognitive Symptoms
• Impaired memory and attention
• Difficulty thinking through complicated processes, making sense of
information
• Impaired ability to organize
• Poor decision-making
• Difficulty in interpreting social cues
Affective Symptoms
• Gleeful or sad inappropriately
• People with schizophrenia are often depressed or have mood swings