Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior and emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. Symptoms may include:  Delusions. These are false beliefs that are not based in reality. For example, you think that you're being harmed or harassed; certain gestures or comments are directed at you; you have exceptional ability or fame; another person is in love with you; or a major catastrophe is about to occur. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia. Hallucinations. These usually involve seeing or hearing things that don't exist. Yet for the person with schizophrenia, they have the full force and impact of a normal experience. Hallucinations can be in any of the senses, but hearing voices is the most common hallucination. Disorganized thinking (speech). Disorganized thinking is inferred from disorganized speech. Effective communication can be impaired, and answers to questions may be partially or completely unrelated. Rarely, speech may include putting together meaningless words that can't be understood, sometimes known as word salad. Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior. This may show in a number of ways, from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation. Behavior isn't focused on a goal, so it's hard to do tasks. Behavior can include resistance to instructions, inappropriate or bizarre posture, a complete lack of response, or useless and excessive movement. Negative symptoms. This refers to reduced or lack of ability to function normally. For example, the person may neglect personal hygiene or appear to lack emotion (doesn't make eye contact, doesn't change facial expressions or speaks in a monotone). Also, the person may lose interest in everyday activities, socially withdraw or lack the ability to experience pleasure.  Symptoms can vary in type and severity over time, with periods of worsening and remission of symptoms. Some symptoms may always be present. In men, schizophrenia symptoms typically start in the early to mid-20s. In women, symptoms typically begin in the late 20s. It's uncommon for children to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and rare for those older than age 45. Symptoms in teenagers Schizophrenia symptoms in teenagers are similar to those in adults, but the condition may be more difficult to recognize. This may be in part because some of the early symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are common for typical development during teen years, such as:  Withdrawal from friends and family A drop in performance at school Trouble sleeping Irritability or depressed mood Lack of motivation  Also, recreational substance use, such as marijuana, methamphetamines or LSD, can sometimes cause similar signs and symptoms. Compared with schizophrenia symptoms in adults, teens may be:  Less likely to have delusions More likely to have visual hallucinations 
schizophrenia involves range problems thinking (cognition)  behavior emotions  signs symptoms may vary  involve delusions  hallucinations disorganized speech  reflect impaired ability function  symptoms may include:  delusions  false beliefs based reality  example  think you're being harmed harassed; gestures comments directed you; exceptional ability fame; person love you; major catastrophe occur  delusions occur people schizophrenia  hallucinations  involve seeing hearing don't exist  person schizophrenia  full force impact normal experience  hallucinations can senses  hearing voices common hallucination  disorganized thinking (speech)  disorganized thinking inferred disorganized speech  effective communication can impaired  answers questions may partially completely unrelated  rarely  speech may include putting meaningless words can't understood  known word salad  extremely disorganized abnormal motor behavior  may show number ways  childlike silliness unpredictable agitation  behavior isn't focused goal  it's hard tasks  behavior can include resistance instructions  inappropriate bizarre posture  complete lack response  useless excessive movement  negative symptoms  refers reduced lack ability function normally  example  person may neglect personal hygiene lack emotion (doesn't eye contact  doesn't change facial expressions speaks monotone)  also  person may lose interest everyday activities  socially withdraw lack ability experience pleasure   symptoms can vary type severity time  periods worsening remission symptoms  symptoms may present  men  schizophrenia symptoms typically start early mid-20s  women  symptoms typically begin late 20s  it's uncommon children diagnosed schizophrenia rare older age 45  symptoms teenagers schizophrenia symptoms teenagers similar adults  condition may difficult recognize  may part early symptoms schizophrenia teenagers common typical development teen years  as:  withdrawal friends family drop performance school trouble sleeping irritability depressed mood lack motivation  also  recreational substance use  marijuana  methamphetamines lsd  can cause similar signs symptoms  compared schizophrenia symptoms adults  teens may be:  likely delusions likely visual hallucinations 
schizophrenia