What is schizophrenia?

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What is schizophrenia?

When someone cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is imaginary, they may be described as having a 'psychotic' illness. The most common type of psychosis is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is different for each person, but usually involves a dramatic disturbance in thoughts and feelings and results in behaviour that may seem odd to other people. Some people hear voices, others see things which are not there, or feel they are being persecuted.

Some people only experience one episode of psychosis and some recover from schizophrenia. For others, schizophrenia is a long-term illness but a combination of medication (drugs) and talking therapies can help to control it and help you get on with your life.

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If you have schizophrenia there may be times when you experience some of the following:

  • Strange beliefs or thoughts with little no basis in reality (called delusions). For example, you may think that you have special powers. Or you may think someone from the house next door is trying to control your thoughts or feelings (called paranoid delusions).
  • Hearing, seeing, feeling or even smelling things that are not there (called hallucinations). For example you may hear voices talking about you.
  • Thoughts 'jumping' between completely unrelated topics (called disordered thinking). This can make conversations difficult.
  • Inappropriate behaviour, ...

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