Symptoms & Concepts
Hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behavior are examples of these symptoms.
Positive symptoms
Psychotic symptoms lasting between 1 day and 1 month.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
This neurotransmitter system is most associated with schizophrenia.
Dopamine
The primary class of medications used to treat psychotic symptoms.
Antipsychotics
A fixed, false belief that is not based in reality.
Delusion
Symptoms must persist for this minimum duration for a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Six months
Delusions lasting at least 1 month but with otherwise normal functioning.
Delusional Disorder
Having a close biological relative with schizophrenia increases this.
Genetic risk
This type of therapy helps patients challenge delusional thinking and manage symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Disorganized, jumbled, or incoherent way of speaking.
Disorganized speech
The period before full psychosis develops, often involving subtle changes in behavior.
Prodromal phase
Symptoms of schizophrenia plus major mood episodes.
Schizoaffective Disorder
Prenatal exposure to viruses or complications during pregnancy increase this type of vulnerability.
Environmental risk
The manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose psychotic disorders.
DSM-5
Reduced emotional expression, flat affect, and social withdrawal fall under this symptom category.
Negative symptoms
One of the most common types of hallucinations in schizophrenia.
Auditory hallucinations
Psychosis lasting 1–6 months that does not yet meet full schizophrenia criteria.
Schizophreniform Disorder
Stressful life events can trigger or worsen symptoms through this psychological model.
Stress-vulnerability model
These medications block dopamine receptors to reduce hallucinations and delusions.
Typical or atypical antipsychotics
Jumping rapidly between unrelated topics when speaking.
Loose associations
The cognitive domain most often impaired in schizophrenia, affecting memory and attention.
Executive functioning
Disorder caused by substance use leading to hallucinations or delusions.
Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder
Early childhood trauma can contribute to the development of these types of symptoms.
Psychotic or dissociative symptoms
A long-term treatment approach involving social skills, support, and community-based services.
Psychosocial rehabilitation