Schizophrenia is a mental illness and appears in the teens and early adult years.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

CAUSES Genetic Factor People who have family members with schizophrenia may be more likely to get the illness themselves. Environmental Events-during development in the mother's womb or stressful psychological experiences.

TYPES Paranoid types - feel anxious, are more often angry or argumentative, and falsely believe that others are trying to harm them or their loved ones. Disorganized types - have problems thinking and expressing their ideas clearly. Catatonic types - they may not move or be underactive. Undifferentiated types - may have symptoms of more than one other type of schizophrenia. Residual types - experience some symptoms, but not as many as those who are in a full-blown episode of schizophrenia.

TREATMENTS Medications. Support programs and therapies. Expectations (prognosis). Complications. Calling your health care provider. Prevention.

SCHIZOPHRENIA AND AUTISM: DIFFERENCES SCHIZOPHRENIA SYMPTOMS

Age of onset Symptoms Mental retardation Seizure disorder Family history Adolescence or early adulthood Hallucinations and delusions No relationship No relationship Increased history of schizophrenia spectrum disorder Antipsychotic medications specific and effective Generally life-long. But some cases recover more fully

AUTISM
Less than 36 months No hallucinations and delusions Often present Common Increased history of autism spectrum disorder Medications palliative Generally life-long. Few cases are recovery

a) PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS Appearance or mood that shows no emotion (flat affect). Bizarre movements that show less of a reaction to the environment (catatonic behavior). False beliefs or thoughts that are not based in reality (delusions). Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations). Alogia (lack of speech). b) PROBLEMS WITH THINKING Problems paying attention. Thoughts "jump" between unrelated topics (disordered thinking).

Treatment Course