Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that impairs perceptions of reality in addition to causing abnormal behavior symptoms. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates nearly one percent of Americans as having this disorder in any given year. Schizophrenia is characterized by symptom categories that may cause psychosis, abnormal emotions or cognitive disturbance. The cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia refer to thought processes, memory and interpretations of information from the external world.
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning refers to the ability to understand information in an abstract manner. When in tact, this cognitive process leads to anticipating outcomes of potential behaviors and setting goals in order to achieve the outcomes. According to Psychiatric Times online, measurement tests given to people diagnosed with schizophrenia show poor levels of executive functioning in the area of concept attainment or abstract thinking. For instance, a person with schizophrenia may not understand abstract concepts such as the idiom that people in glass houses should not throw stones, even if the concept is explained.
Disordered Thinking
According to the Mayo Clinic, difficulty thinking in an organized manner often leads to poor attention and communication disturbance in people with schizophrenia. Disordered thinking symptoms affect concentration on one thought at a time. People with schizophrenia often display rapid and random thoughts evidenced by meaningless speech in conversations. This is clinically called aphasia, but often referred to as "word salad." Disordered thinking prevents coherent communication, and influences the social isolation associated with schizophrenia.
Memory Problems
Working memory is where short-term information is stored and allows a person to learn and reason effectively. Schizophrenia causes problems in working memory, making it difficult for sustaining employment or retaining information in school. The NIMH indicates this cognitive symptom may prohibit the person with schizophrenia from engaging in normal daily tasks to support themselves such as getting and keeping employment. The lack of normalizing into society further contributes to increasing emotional distress and social withdrawal.
