What are the signs of Schizophrenia?

Also how do you know if a person has it?

Schizophrenia seems, in clinical terms, to be a vague, catch-all word that is used to label a range of symptoms that don't have any other suitable label. The answers.com link below provides helpful information. Broadly, the overall idea is that it is "marked by severely impaired thinking, emotions and behaviours".

Diagnosis is generally negative - a clinician will generally eliminate other possible diagnoses and will therefore come to the conclusion that it is schizophrenia. The reason it tends to happen this way is because there doesn't seem to be any particular defined cause. Schizophrenia seems to be more common in young adult males.

The best way to find out definitively is to conduct a Yahoo! web search for "schizophrenia" Wikipedia has a good summary.. It is not a single disease but a spectrum of disorders..If you want an inside opinion go to my profile and look up some of my answers and/or e-mail me from there.

Good luck with your research, good mental health, peace and Love!

the answer above is true, many people can hide it but sometimes the signs scare them enough to seek help. people may hear voices in their head, or think that they hear them outloud, but no one was talking, may also see things that are not there, for instance people claim to see shadows of people on walls, also become paranoid and have pecular thought patterns that interfere with their lives.

Lunacy, paranoia. Just look at a crackhead.

Hello,
If you think you have it more then likely you don't.
Bi polar I have read has some of the same symptoms.

There is also the schizophrenia scale (look it up). I just know that one of the symptoms is not wanting it....I mean who would want it or anything on the scale?
Those who do find out they are diagnosed with it, for some it is the most terrifying,unbelievable thing to ever happen to them and if they try hard enough maybe it will just go away, only to knock them around more and more.......

Go read up on it there are different levels of schizophrenia as well as different diagnoses on the schizophrenia scale.

there are a few different types of schizophrenia

well they start withdrawing into themselves more and away from other people

they say they are fine all the time, and may even be convincing
but you may catch them talking to people, shouting, arguing, even laughing but thers no-one there except them
and may other strange worrying behaviours

they may get agressive

they may seem perfectly normal to people who dont know somethings wrong,
but start acting 'odd' again once they leave, or are alone, or with you or anyone else they know and who is aware they have something wrong

they will usually think someone is 'out to get them', thers a conspiracy against them or something similar that usually does include those closest to them , family friends etc
but all their symptoms will be slightly unique to the individual

get a doctor to see them, get a gp and then get a mental health professional, dont leave it at simply a gp (general practitioner) seeing them, they are NOT equipt to make any decisions on mental illness, but can refer you and the person to one who is
see the relevant professionals for the relevant issue,

and
dont let the doctor leave saying 'they are fine, seem fine to me, look ok, act normal now'
or anything else' simply because they act normal,

get another opinion, take evidence of their behaviors that cause you concern (ie photos, videos , recordings etc otherwise if they act normal its really hard for the doctors to say they are ill because they seem normal every time they see them)



you dont really know if they have it or not, you just have to figure it out through all the things they do, their actions, ther speech
watch them basically
theres no real test
just monitoring their behavior and getting a professional to see them and spend time with them

dont give up on the person based on what the doctors say

the doctors may see nothing and go away thinking its all fine, but you know different so make sure they become aware of what you know, dont let your friend or family member slip through the cracks as so many other sufferers and their familys do

i hope you are ok, or the person dealing with this is ok, its tough and very scary at times, but be strong
there are many people who know exactly what you/they are going through after having been through it too
and many people can help, but you have to find them first and that can take a long time

whatever you end up having to do, no matter how crule and upsetting , it will be the right decision, because it would usualy be your only option ,

so if it comes down to really bad decisions, they still need to be made because many lives are in danger and will suffer with a seriously mentally ill person in their lives/homes/ hearts and minds

hopefully the personwillbe diagnosed and get the relevant care and medicine to help
i hope this works out for you/ them
i truly do