Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized variously by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect. Symptoms develop gradually and typically begin during young adulthood and... Wikipedia

• Symptoms:  Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, flat or inappropriate affect
• Complications:  Harm to self or others, social isolation, cognitive issues, heart disease, lifestyle diseases, obesity and type 2 diabetes arising from antipsychotic medication
• Usual onset:  Ages 16 to 30
• Duration:  Chronic
• Causes:  Environmental and genetic factors
• Risk factors:  Family history, cannabis use in adolescence, consumption of hallucinogens or amphetamines, problems during pregnancy, childhood adversity, birth in late winter or early spring, older father, being born or raised in a city
• Diagnostic method:  Based on observed behavior, reported experiences, and reports of others familiar with the person
• Differential diagnosis:  Substance use disorder, Huntington's disease, mood disorders (bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder), autism, borderline personality disorder, schizophreniform disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, psychotic depression, anxiety, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, sleep paralysis
• Management:  Counseling, life skills training
• Medication:  Antipsychotics
• Prognosis:  20–28 years shorter life expectancy
• Data source:  DuckDuckGo