7^th European Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Meeting

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations (perceiving things that are not there), delusions (strongly held beliefs that are not based in reality), disorganized thinking, and impairments in social functioning. People with schizophrenia may also experience negative symptoms, such as reduced emotional expression or lack of motivation.

Key features of schizophrenia include:

1. Positive Symptoms: These are psychotic symptoms that are "added" to a person's behavior and include hallucinations (typically auditory), delusions (false beliefs), disorganized thinking (e.g., difficulty organizing thoughts or connecting ideas), and unusual or disorganized behavior.
2. Negative Symptoms: These involve a decrease or absence of normal behaviors and include reduced emotional expression (flat affect), decreased motivation or initiative, social withdrawal, and difficulty experiencing pleasure (anhedonia).
3. Cognitive Symptoms: These can affect memory, attention, and executive functioning (e.g., planning and problem-solving). Cognitive deficits can contribute to difficulties in daily functioning and maintaining relationships.