Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a long-term psychotic disorder that can affect perception, beliefs, thought organisation, motivation and daily function. Hallucinations alone do not establish the diagnosis.
Key points
- Hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking may occur alongside withdrawal, reduced expression and difficulty initiating activity.
- Assessment considers duration, functional change, mood episodes, substances, medicines, neurological disease and immediate safety.
- Antipsychotics may reduce psychotic symptoms but differ in movement, metabolic, hormonal, cardiac and sedating adverse effects.
Catalogue matches are not a diagnosis and do not indicate which antipsychotic, formulation or dose is suitable.
What can early change look like?
Declining work or study, disrupted sleep, social withdrawal, unusual suspicion and hard-to-follow speech can precede a clear episode, but they also have other causes. Early assessment is useful when changes persist or function deteriorates.
What supports recovery?
Care may combine an antipsychotic, psychological support, family education, physical-health monitoring and practical help. Options such as risperidone or olanzapine are selected individually; response and adverse effects require follow-up. See mental health.
When to seek urgent care
Get urgent help for suicidal or violent intent, command hallucinations creating danger, severe agitation, inability to eat or drink, catatonia, or new psychosis with fever, seizure or reduced consciousness.
Further reading
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