What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

The symptoms of schizophrenia can vary widely from person to person, and they may fluctuate over time. Some common symptoms include:

Hallucinations: These involve seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there. Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, are common in schizophrenia.

Delusions: These are fixed, false beliefs that a person holds despite evidence to the contrary. For example, someone with schizophrenia might believe they are being verfolgt or that they have special powers.

Disorganized speech: This can include speech that is difficult to understand, jumping from one topic to another, or using made-up words.

Disorganized behaviour: This can include actions that are inappropriate or unpredictable, such as laughing or crying at inappropriate times, or dressing in a strange way.

Negative symptoms: These are symptoms that reflect a decrease or loss of normal functions. They can include a lack of motivation, emotional blunting, social withdrawal, and difficulty with concentration and memory.

Other symptoms of schizophrenia may include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts.

It's important to note that not everyone with schizophrenia experiences all of these symptoms, and the severity of symptoms can vary from mild to severe.