4 Ways To Identify Types of Schizophrenia

1. Understand Paranoia

Sometimes, persons with schizophrenia will experience an obsession with certain delusions or hallucinations. They may develop close relationships with imaginary persons or believe they are being harassed and even chased by evil people or creatures. Paranoia schizophrenia is perhaps the most dangerous type, because those suffering from these obsessions may react in ways that make sense to them, but could potentially harm others. A diagnosis for this type is justified if the person's emotions, speech and behaviors are otherwise normal.

2. Recognize Disorganization

A person suffering from schizophrenia may exhibit very disorganized and muddled characteristics. Their speech will be a flow of undecipherable sounds or they may use sentences that ramble aimlessly and contain made-up words. There will also be a marked decrease in behavioral organization. Personal hygiene may diminish, causing the person's scraggly beard, uncombed hair, and dirty body to appear wild. They may find it difficult to keep a clean house and to complete tasks that require order. Additionally, those with Disorganized Type Schizophrenia have emotional responses that could be either inappropriate or nonexistent.

3. Identify Catatonia

Essentially, catatonia refers to either excessive irrational behavior or a complete absence of behavior. Persons with Catatonic Type Schizophrenia may stare into space and appear oblivious to the persons or objects around them. Catalepsy can occur, wherein the person's muscles become rigid and unmoving, often in uncomfortable positions, such as standing on one leg. In some cases, the person will allow you to reposition them and will then hold the new posture. In others, they will resist all efforts at changing their position. Catatonia may also manifest as excessive activity, including running, dancing, fidgeting, or rocking. This form of activity is generally purposeless and is not the result of outside influences.

4. Classify Appropriately

Persons that do not match the Paranoid, Disorganized, or Catatonic Type, but still have several primary symptoms of schizophrenia, are categorized as Undifferentiated Type Schizophrenics. They may hallucinate, experience delusions, and fluctuate between paranoia, disorganization and catatonia, but they do not adhere regularly to any one type.

A final category is known as the Residual Type. This form of schizophrenia is milder in scope and does not contain major delusions, extreme disorganization, or other prominent schizophrenic symptoms. Although symptoms are still present, they are weakened forms of those found in other classes and appear to be little more than exaggerated beliefs of a bizarre nature or sensory perceptions that are rather unusual.