Subtypes of Schizophrenia
Paranoid Type People with paranoid type of schizophrenia suffered from delusions and hallucinations (mostly auditory), but they can speak logically and give appropriate emotional responses since their cognitive skills and affect are intact. These patients may have delusions and hallucinations characterized by themes of grandeur or persecution, i.e. thinking themselves as famous persons or being persecuted, so these usually make them less likely to get social support.
Disorganized Type People with disorganized schizophrenia perform disrupted speech and behavior. They may jump from topic to topic suddenly in their speech and this make their conversation illogical. Sometimes they show blunt affected or inappropriate emotional responses, for example, they may cry after listening to a joke. If they also experienced delusions and hallucinations, these false thinking and perception will appear to be fragmented and disorganized.
Catatonic Type People with catatonic type of schizophrenia will hold their bodies in specific positions for a long time. If someone tries to change their rigid gestures, they will keep their bodies in the original positions again and this is called waxy flexibility. In contract to waxy flexibility, sometimes they are excessively active. They may also display odd bodily mannerisms and facial expressions and often mimic the words or movements of others.
Undifferentiated Type People with undifferentiated type of schizophrenia suffered from the major symptoms of the disorder, but they do not fit neatly into the three subtypes mentioned above.
Residual Type People with residual type of schizophrenia have had at least one episode of schizophrenia but they no longer display major schizophrenic symptoms. They may experience residual or ‘leftover’ symptoms, such as negative belief, social withdrawal, bizarre thoughts, inactivity and flat affect.
Other Psychotic Disorders People with other psychotic disorders may display similar symptoms as schizophrenia but these symptoms do not fit neatly into the diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia. Other psychotic disorders include the following categories.
Schizophreniform Disorder Some people have suffered from the symptom of schizophrenia for a few months, and after treatment, the symptoms disappear for no apparent reason. This type of disorder was classified as schizophreniform disorder.
Schizoaffective Disorder The patients with schizophrenic symptoms and also mood disorders are diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder.
Delusional Disorder This type of patients suffered from no other symptoms of schizophrenia except delusion, and their delusions are not realistic. These delusions are not due to organic factors such as brain seizures.
Brief Psychotic Disorder Patients with brief psychotic disorder suffered from one or more positive symptoms, or disorganized speech or behavior lasting 1 month or less. The patients then regain the ability of functioning in daily living. This disorder can be triggered by severe life stressors suddenly.
Shared Psychotic Disorder (Folie a Deux) People suffered from shared psychotic disorder because they are influenced by schizophrenic delusional patients who have very close relationship with them. They experienced delusions which are originated from these delusional individuals with similar themes and nature.
