Schizophrenia, a lifelong psychiatric disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations and abnormal social behaviors, usually first appears in young adults, with 25 the average age in males and 30 for women, according to Helpguide.org. Schizophrenia affects around 1 percent of Americans. Recognizing early signs of schizophrenia can aid in early diagnosis and treatment. The early stage of schizophrenia is called the prodrome, or prodromal phase. This early stage usually occurs one to two years before psychotic symptoms become evident.
Mental Changes
Early mental changes in schizophrenia include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, irritability and confusion. Brief intermittent psychotic syndrome (BIPS), in which hallucinations lasting a few minutes occur daily, affects some people in the early stages of schizophrenia. Changes in perception and unusual thought that don't qualify as psychotic behavior also may occur, according to Health Central. This condition is called attenuated positive symptom syndrome (APSS).
Emotional Changes
In the prodrome stage, a person with early symptoms of schizophrenia may have difficulty expressing emotion, having an expressionless gaze or an inability to laugh or cry. Anxiety levels may increase, and depression commonly occurs. A person with early schizophrenia may be unable to handle any type of criticism and may fly into a rage over trivial incidents.
Behavioral Changes
Early behavioral changes include withdrawal from friends and family or a change in friends, a drop in grades or disinterest in hobbies or activities, increasing isolation, including missing school and work, sleep difficulties that may include sleeping too little or too much, and suspicion or hostility toward others. Since many of these behaviors are typical in teens, they may not be recognized as early signs of schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. At the same time, as their suspicions that others are talking about them increase, they may actually draw negative reactions from others by refusing to bathe or change their clothes regularly. They may say things that don't make sense and hold irrational viewpoints. Some speak with an odd cadence or unusual wording.
