Types of Schizophrenia
Catatonic type schizophrenia
Patients with this subtype of Schizophrenia may exhibit extremes
of behavior including catatonia. Some may allow their posture to
be rearranged, holding the new position (catalepsy or waxy
flexibility). Others may imitate sounds (echolalia) or movements
(echopraxia) of others. At times, some patients may explode into
an excited, activated state marked by purposeless ad repetitive
movements. The catatonic type is rare today, and probably
reflected an advanced stage of schizophrenia before the advent
of modern treatment methods.
Disorganized type schizophrenia
A form of schizophrenia that is characterized by a disorganized
behavior and disorganized speech. Their affect may be flat or
inappropriate. This type involves a disturbance in behavior,
communication, and thought. Usually these patients show a
variety of eccentric characteristics such as unusual clothing or
peculiar gestures.
Paranoid type schizophrenia
Delusions and auditory hallucinations predominate in patients
with this subtype of schizophrenia while their affective and
cognitive functioning remains relatively intact. This type of
patient often has highly elaborate delusions of persecution or
personal grandeur. However, the patient may appear rather normal
until he or she becomes entangled in typical argumentativeness
and suspiciousness.
Residual type schizophrenia
A form of schizophrenia that is characterized by a previous
diagnosis of schizophrenia, but no longer having any of the
prominent psychotic symptoms. There are some remaining symptoms
of the disorder however, such as eccentric behavior, emotional
blunting, illogical thinking, or social withdrawal.
In the residual type of schizophrenia, the patient has had at
least one episode of schizophrenia. If delusions or
hallucinations are present, they are not prominent, and are not
accompanied by strong affect.
Undifferentiated type schizophrenia
This subtype of schizophrenia applies to patients who fail to
meet the criteria for the other subtypes but clearly suffer from
this mental disorder. The patient suffers from pronounced
psychotic symptoms, which may not fit in any other specific
category or more than one.
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