Schizophreniais a chronic psychiatric disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
Schizophrenia usually develops slowly, with early warning signs starting before the first severe episode.
The onset of schizophrenia can last from months to years.
Ellen Lindner / Verywell
The first signs of schizophrenia can be different depending on how old a person is when the disorder develops.
Positive Signs
Positive symptomscan be the first signs that someone is living with schizophrenia.
Instead, its helpful to think of positive as meaning present.
The early positive symptoms of schizophrenia may get worse in the run-up to an acute episode ofpsychosis.
Negative Signs
Negative symptomsof schizophrenia develop later.
Negative does not mean bad, bur rather absent or reduced.
People living with schizophrenia have fewer of these traits, or may not have them at all.
Schizophrenia can also look and feel a little different depending on the age at which it develops.
In Teenagers
Before the onset of schizophrenia, adolescents often develop changes in behavior.
For example, a normal part of childhood is having vivid imaginations and fantasies.
However, these can be misunderstood to be hallucinationsa symptom of schizophrenia.
Ellen Lindner / Verywell
In Early Adulthood
Schizophrenia typically develops during early adulthood.
Its onset is characterized by changes in behavior and a deterioration in functioning in daily life.
The most common early warning signs of schizophrenia include:
What Are Prodromal Symptoms in Schizophrenia?
Some, but not all, people with schizophrenia experience a prodromal stage before the full-blown disorder happens.
Not everyone will experience these early warning signs at the same time in their lives.
According to some studies, these prodromal symptoms can be present for years.
The disorder typically becomes evident slightly earlier in men than it does in women.
This is called childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) and it is diagnosed before the age of 13.
Women are more likely to be in this group than men.
The symptoms typically develop inmenopause, between ages 44 and 49 years old.
Schizophrenia has a strong genetic component and is highly heritable.
Having a family member with schizophrenia increases your risk of developing the disease.
People are at risk for suicidal thoughts and may act on those thoughts.
Depression has been identified as a major risk factor for suicide among people living with schizophrenia.
you might call the toll-free, 24-hourNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline)at 800-237-8255.
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