Diagnosis and Symptoms
This symptom involves hearing voices or seeing things that others cannot perceive
What are hallucinations
Research shows that having a close biological relative with schizophrenia significantly increases a person’s risk for developing this disorder
What is a genetic predisposition?
This complication occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen during birth and has been linked to a higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life
What is birth hypoxia?
This class of medications is the primary treatment for reducing hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia
What are antipsychotics?
A common misconception is that people with schizophrenia can “snap out of it” if they try hard enough, ignoring the biological and chronic nature of the disorder
What is the myth that people with schizophrenia can will themselves to get better?
These are strongly held false beliefs that persist despite clear evidence that they are not true
What are delusions?
This brain chemical is often linked to psychotic symptoms, and the “dopamine hypothesis” suggests that too much activity of it may contribute to schizophrenia
What is dopamine?
Viral infections experienced by a mother during pregnancy, particularly in the second trimester, are considered this type of prenatal risk factor for schizophrenia
What are prenatal infections?
This type of therapy helps people with schizophrenia challenge distorted thoughts and develop coping strategies for symptoms
What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
Some believe that schizophrenia means having a “split personality,” but this is incorrect and actually refers to a different disorder
What is the myth that schizophrenia is the same as multiple personality disorder?
This type of delusion involves the belief that one is being watched, harmed, or plotted against by others
What are persecutory delusions?
Complications before or during birth are considered this type of developmental risk factor
What are prenatal Complications?
Being born significantly earlier than the expected due date is this medical complication that may increase vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia
What is premature birth?
Programs that help individuals build everyday skills like communication, work readiness, and independent living are known as this type of rehabilitation
What is psychosocial rehabilitation?
This stereotype suggests that people with schizophrenia cannot work, live independently, or have meaningful relationships, which is not universally true
What is the myth that people with schizophrenia cannot function in daily life?
This symptom refers to severe confusion or disorganized movement and behavior, sometimes including unusual postures or lack of response to the environment
What is catatonia?
High levels of criticism, hostility, or emotional over-involvement from family members have been linked to relapse in schizophrenia and are known by this term
What is high expressed emotion?
Babies born with this condition—defined as weighing less than about 5 pounds, 8 ounces—may have an increased risk of later developmental and psychiatric disorders
What is low birth weight?
When schizophrenia symptoms return or worsen after a period of improvement, it is referred to as this
What is relapse?
There is a false belief that schizophrenia is caused by bad parenting or family dysfunction, ignoring the roles of genetics and neurobiology
What is the myth that schizophrenia is caused by “bad parenting”?
When a person’s speech becomes disorganized and difficult to follow, clinicians may refer to it as this symptom
What is disorganized thinking
This environmental factor, particularly when experienced early in life, has been associated with an increased risk of psychotic disorders
What is severe stress or trauma?
Severe complications during pregnancy caused by high blood pressure that affects the mother and baby are known by this term and may impact fetal brain development
What is preclampsia?
This term describes the expected long-term course or outcome of a disorder, including chances of recovery or relapse
What is prognosis?
Some think that medication alone can completely “cure” schizophrenia, but effective treatment usually requires a combination of medication, therapy, and support
What is the myth that schizophrenia can be cured by medication alone?