Schizophrenia can cause hallucinations, delusions, and even abnormal movements. We explain what symptoms predominate in each of the types in which the disorder is classified.
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Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that, until recently, was divided for study into different subtypes. In fact, in general, five types of schizophrenia are differentiated according to the traits that predominate in each case.
In all of them there is an alteration in the way of interpreting reality. Hallucinations, delusions, and variations in behavior and thinking occur. It is a disease that has a great impact on the life of those who suffer from it and also on the people around them.
It can even pose a risk, as patients lose the ability to control their actions. Therefore, in this article we explain everything you need to know about the different types of schizophrenia and how each one is characterized.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia, as we have just noted, is a mental disorder . It usually appears around 20 years of age. This is important because, many times, it is confused with other pathologies. However, it is rarely the same if the diagnosis is made in childhood or from the age of 45.
This disease affects behavior, the ability to think and emotions. The truth is that the symptoms are highly variable. Hallucinations are one of the most frequent. They can be both auditory and visual.
The person with schizophrenia experiences sensations that do not exist , such as hearing a voice or seeing a person that is not real. A symptom that usually shows the alteration of thought is that she speaks in a disorganized way, without meaning.
Another common sign is abnormal movements. For example, moving your arm excessively or adopting a strange posture for a while. Even, as we will explain later, in some types of schizophrenia this movement disorder can become the main characteristic.
Hallucinations are classic symptoms of schizophrenia, with seeing and hearing things unreal.
What are the types of schizophrenia?
As they well explained in an article written at the University of Salamanca , both the types of schizophrenia and the acceptance of the disorder itself is relatively recent. In ancient times, people who suffered from this disease were thought to be possessed by evil .
Therefore, it can be said that psychology advanced remarkably. Before the DSM-V ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fifth Edition) was published, five types of schizophrenia were distinguished, which we will explain below.
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Paranoid schizophrenia
In these cases, the predominant symptoms are usually auditory hallucinations and delusions . According to a study published in the Electronic Medical Journal , it is the most frequent within the types of schizophrenia.
Disorganized schizophrenia
They are people who have a great alteration of affectivity. They find it difficult to act appropriately in all situations. That is, they are usually uninhibited and present chaotic behaviors. For example, laughing when someone tells them bad news.
Catatonic
Among the types of schizophrenia, catatonic is one of the easiest to recognize. These are people who can stand for a long time without moving or without having any expression on their face.
Although they remain motionless, their thoughts are actually racing at one speed. So much so that they disconnect from the outside and do not even respond to stimuli.
Residual and undifferentiated
Undifferentiated schizophrenia is one in which no specific symptoms predominate , but rather a mixture of all the aforementioned occurs. The residual is that certain signs are maintained, despite having established a treatment.
What types of schizophrenia are there according to DSM-5?
Today, the DSM-5 is the standard used manual for diagnosing mental disorders . Regarding the types of schizophrenia, this tool included numerous changes compared to previous editions.
According to a study by the Revista Iberoamericana de Psicosomática , the main change is the elimination of these subtypes. What is currently being sought is to determine the symptom that predominates at the beginning of the disease .
In this way, instead of having types of schizophrenia, what is clarified are course specifiers . Thus, what is intended is that the psychologist or psychiatrist have a greater facility when evaluating and treating that person.
The classifications of the disease are intended to improve the approach by providing tools to health professionals.
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The types of schizophrenia are still used as a classification
The types of schizophrenia are, in general, five: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated and residual. Despite the fact that many experts have eliminated this classification, many others continue to use it because it can be useful when establishing treatment.
What we must remember is that any of the types of schizophrenia is serious. They pose a risk to the life of those who suffer it and even to their environment. Therefore, the main thing is to always seek help from a professional.
