By: Julianne Swinney

 Schizophrenia is a brain disorder.  People with schizophrenia have problems such as hearing internal voices.  They believe that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or wanting to harm them.  Their speech and behavior can be out of control.

MenWomen  Men can get Schizophrenia in their early years.  Late teens or early twenties.  Women can get Schizophrenia in their later years.  Twenties or early thirties.

Positive symptomsNegative symptoms  Positive symptoms- Psychotic behaviors not seen in healthy people. People with positive symptoms often "lose touch" with reality.  Hallucinations  Delusions  Thought disorders  Movement disorders  Negative Symptoms- Disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors. These symptoms are harder to recognize.  "Flat affect" (a person's face does not move or he or she talks in a dull or monotonous voice)  Lack of pleasure in everyday life  Lack of ability to begin and sustain planned activities  Very little speaking

 Genes  Environment  Different brain chemistry  Different brain structure

 People who have schizophrenia are not usually violent.  If someone becomes violent they usually direct it to a family member and it takes place at home.  People with schizophrenia can attempt suicide.  About 10% die from suicide.

 chizophrenia/index.shtml