Schizophrenia - disorganized type
Disorganized schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia in which behavior is disturbed and has no purpose.
Causes
The cause is unknown. This type of schizophrenia usually begins before age 25.
Symptoms
- Active behavior, but in an aimless and not constructive way
- Bizarre and inappropriate emotional responses (laughter)
- Difficulty feeling pleasure
- False, fixed beliefs (delusions)
- Grimacing
- Lack of motivation
- Seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
- Strange or silly behavior
- Speech that makes no sense
Some of these symptoms are also seen in other types of schizophrenia. The main difference is that in disorganized schizophrenia, there is a lot of strange, aimless behavior and often speech that does not make sense.
Alternative Names
Hebephrenic schizophrenia; Disorganized schizophrenia
References
Freudenreich O, Weiss AP, Goff DC. Psychosis and schizophrenia. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 28.
Update Date: 3/7/2012
Updated by: Fred K. Berger, MD, Addiction and Forensic Psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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