What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects everything from how you think to how you feel and behave—but that doesn’t mean it has to control your life.

Causes

While medical experts like healthcare professionals and researchers don’t exactly understand what causes schizophrenia, there is something very important to remember: living with schizophrenia is not anyone’s fault. No one is to blame, and there’s nothing anyone did to cause it. What experts do know is that schizophrenia can be caused or triggered by a combination of factors: 

genetics

Genetics

Someone might be at a higher risk to develop schizophrenia if it runs in their family’s genes, and/or if they have a naturally occurring imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain.

environment

Environment

In combination with genetic factors, schizophrenia might be triggered by exposure to certain environmental risk factors, like stress, toxins or viruses during brain development, a head injury, or use of certain types of drugs.

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Symptoms

There are 3 kinds of schizophrenia symptoms: positive, negative, and cognitive. They can vary greatly from person to person. Not everyone living with schizophrenia will have every symptom and the way symptoms are experienced can change over time. 

Added behaviors that show a person is experiencing thoughts and emotions that don't reflect their current environment.

  • Hearing and seeing things that no one else experiences
  • Having beliefs that are not true or logical
  • Having difficulty thinking or speaking

Negative symptoms reduce feelings or behaviors that are usually present.

  • Showing little emotion or facial expression
  • Lacking motivation to perform everyday tasks/activities (like bathing or brushing your teeth)
  • Speaking very little
  • Inability (or reduced ability) to experience pleasure

Symptoms that affect a person's ability to think clearly and perform mental activities.

  • Trouble focusing
  • Problems with memory
  • Difficulty understanding and making decisions

Added behaviors that show a person is experiencing thoughts and emotions that don't reflect their current environment.

  • Hearing and seeing things that no one else experiences
  • Having beliefs that are not true or logical
  • Having difficulty thinking or speaking

Negative symptoms reduce feelings or behaviors that are usually present.

  • Showing little emotion or facial expression
  • Lacking motivation to perform everyday tasks/activities (like bathing or brushing your teeth)
  • Speaking very little
  • Inability (or reduced ability) to experience pleasure

Symptoms that affect a person's ability to think clearly and perform mental activities.

  • Trouble focusing
  • Problems with memory
  • Difficulty understanding and making decisions
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But I was like, I’m done, you know. I don’t know what’s going on, but I need help.

– A schizophrenia community member

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Reaching a Diagnosis

Receiving a diagnosis means you're able to do something about it. Since the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown and symptoms vary so greatly, a diagnosis tends to be a process of elimination to rule out other mental health conditions.

Although only healthcare professionals can make a schizophrenia diagnosis, this process can take some time and typically includes:

  • A physical exam and tests or screenings with a healthcare professional to rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms
  • An evaluation with someone who is specially trained in mental health and will ask questions and make observations to determine if the diagnostic criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association are met
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Making an Informed Treatment Choice

It’s important to be an informed and active partner when you work with your treatment team to decide which medication may be right for you. Your healthcare professional can provide more specific details on all treatment options.

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elizabeth

Meet Elizabeth–
Getting Diagnosed

After being in and out of the hospital for experiencing schizophrenia symptoms, Elizabeth* was ready for an answer. 

Watch Elizabeth’s Story >>

*Elizabeth is a volunteer with the SHARE Network, a volunteer program dedicated to helping adults living with schizophrenia share their personal health stories. She is on a schizophrenia treatment journey with INVEGA SUSTENNA®, given by injection from a healthcare professional.

WHAT’S YOUR PATH?

Living With Schizophrenia

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