Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia

Chronic: there are harmful and subtle changes in an apparently normal young person, who gradually loses drive and motivation then starts to drift away from friends. After months or even years of this decline in mental health, more obvious signs of disturbance such as delusional ideas or hallucinations appear.

Acute: obvious signs such as hallucinations can appear quite suddenly, usually after a stressful event. The individual shows very disturbed behaviour within a few days.

Positive symptoms - type 1: distortion of normal function

• delusions - bizarre beliefs…