Types of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is defined by the National Institutes of Health as a brain disorder that is characterized by hallucinations, hearing voices, having strange thoughts, and perceptions that are out of the ordinary. In women, schizophrenia is often diagnosed in their late 20s and early 30s, while for men it is often found in the late teens and early 20s. Treatment for schizophrenia is a matter of finding the right drug that will relieve the symptoms. When it is diagnosed, it is often categorized as one of four types.

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Paranoid schizophrenia often shows evidence of "hearing things," or auditory hallucinations, as well as extreme feelings of persecution. According to the Mayo Clinic, with paranoid schizophrenia, you feel as though you are being targeted for harm. The brain harbors these feelings, even if the sufferer is proved wrong. Other symptoms can include anxiety, anger and violence if you feel the need to defend yourself against the imagined threat. Suicidal thoughts are also common.

Catatonic Schizophrenia

While those suffering with catatonic schizophrenia can hear voices and have hallucinations, as those with paranoid schizophrenia do, the classic symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia involve the physical movement of the body. A report from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research indicated that those with this type of schizophrenia may hold their body in a particular position for a length of time, stare off into space, and not be in touch with their surroundings. (This state is also known as a catatonic stupor.) Other symptoms can include holding a particular inappropriate posture or facial expression, and copying others' words or physical movements.

Disorganized Schizophrenia

The "disorganization" in disorganized schizophrenia refers to the thought processes. While there may be some hallucinations, the symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia involve the inability to complete simple daily tasks. For example, you may begin brushing your teeth, then leave in the middle of the process and change your shoes. In a report by Dr. Michael Bengston, called "Types of Schizophrenia," the emotional processes can become disorganized, as well. Examples of this are those who may laugh at a funeral, or who may inappropriately react to everyday situations. The inability to put words together to make sense is also prominent in disorganized schizophrenia.

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia

When there are not enough specific symptoms to classify schizophrenia into a specific type, it is labeled as "undifferentiated." Dr. Bengston states that a patient can often show symptoms of one type, then the symptoms can switch to that of another type. Until a specific type is diagnosed, the schizophrenia is categorized under this label.