Schizophrenia Medical Reference
- What Is Catatonic Schizophrenia?
This article describes catatonic schizophrenia, what causes it, and how it is treated.
- Side Effects of Lurasidone (Latuda)
If you have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, lurasidone (Latuda) can help you manage your symptoms. But it does have side effects. Here’s what you need to know.
- What Are Delusions of Persecution?
Delusions of persecution is a type of serious mental illness called delusional disorder. People who have this form of psychotic disorder hold unshakable false beliefs that others are out to harm, mistreat, or conspire against them or their loved ones. Here’s what to know about this rare condition.
- Side Effects of Aripiprazole (Abilify)
If you have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, or autism, aripiprazole (Abilify) can help you manage your symptoms. But it does have side effects. Here’s what you need to know.
- What Is Catatonia?
Find out more about catatonia, a group of symptoms that can involve a lack of movement or communication.
- Childhood Schizophrenia
Learn the warning signs of schizophrenia that shows up in children younger than age 13, and find out how medicine and psychotherapy can help treat it.
- Deep Brain Stimulation for Schizophrenia
Find out how to treat schizophrenia with a procedure that uses electric pulses to help parts of your brain communicate better. It may be an option if medicine isn't working to reduce symptoms.
- Anosognosia: Why Some People Stop Taking Their Meds
Sometimes, people with a serious mental illness can’t admit there’s anything wrong with them. It sounds like stubbornness, but often it’s a serious condition called anosognosia.
- Complementary Treatments for Schizophrenia
While you shouldn't give up your medication and talk therapy, there might be other ways to help manage your symptoms, too.
- Schizophrenia and Marijuana: Trigger or Treatment?
Schizophrenia has no single cause, but marijuana use -- especially when you’re young -- is linked to earlier onset and worse symptoms. Here’s what you should know about pot and psychosis.
- Schizophrenia Prodrome
Find out what kinds of symptoms you might have weeks or even years before a full-blown case of schizophrenia begins.
- Schizophrenia Exams and Diagnostic Tests
A simple finger prick or cheek swab can't show whether someone has schizophrenia. But there are tests that help figure out how severe symptoms are and point the way to the right treatment. Learn about some common tests like PANSS, SANS, SAPS, and BPRS.
- Akathisia
This disorder is a side effect of antipsychotic drugs used to treat brain conditions. It makes it hard for you to stay still. Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of akathisia.
- What Is the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)?
If you have a mental health condition like schizophrenia or depression and you’re part of a clinical trial or research study, your doctor may use a rating system like the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale to measure your symptoms and their severity.
- How to Help Someone Stick With Schizophrenia Care
If someone you’re close to has schizophrenia, you can take these steps to help them keep taking their medicines.
- Why Am I Hearing Things That Aren’t There?
When you hear something that’s not actually there, it can really throw you, but there’s usually a reason for it. Learn what can cause these auditory hallucinations, how your doctor will test for them, and what kind of treatment you might need.
- Schizophrenia Meds: Drug Interactions to Check On
Could your schizophrenia medicines interact with other drugs you take? Learn the warning signs, and when to call your doctor.
- When Someone You Love Has Schizophrenia
Caring For Someone With Schizophrenia. The Top Things You Can Do to Help.
- Schizophrenia: When to Call the Doctor
If your loved one is having a psychotic episode, who do you call? We’ll tell you.
- Schizophrenia Diagnosis & Tests: How Doctors Know If Someone Has It
How do doctors know when someone has schizophrenia? It’s usually based on symptoms, and patterns of behavior, but doctors often use tests to diagnose schizophrenia. Learn more at WebMD.
- Medications That Treat Schizophrenia
What medications treat schizophrenia? Find out the side effects, how to help your loved one stick to a plan, and more.
- Schizophrenia Treatment:Types of Therapies and Medication
Schizophrenia treatment is centered on managing symptoms of the disease since there is no cure. Learn more about the types of therapy and antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenia Causes: Genetics, Environment, and More
What causes schizophrenia? Learn about the genetics, environmental factors, and other neurological changes in the brain contributing to schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenia: When Do Symptoms Usually Start?
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder. Find out when symptoms tend to start.
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health illnesses can cause a rare but serious reaction. Learn what neuroleptic malignant syndrome is and how it's treated.
- Psychosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Psychosis is a set of symptoms that affect the mind. Those who have it lose touch with reality. Find out what causes psychotic episodes and what treatments might help.
- Schizophrenia and Your Brain
When you have schizophrenia, what goes on inside your brain? Several things, including loss of brain tissue.
- Pros and Cons of Long-Lasting Antipsychotic Drugs
A look at how long-acting schizophrenia drugs that you take as a shot once or twice a month may help you keep up with your meds.
- What Is Paranoid Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia with paranoia is the most common example of this mental illness. Delusions make someone with it unreasonably suspicious of other people.
- Hallucinations
WebMD explains different types of hallucinations, possible causes of hallucinating, and various treatments to manage or stop hallucinations.
- How to Recognize Schizophrenia in Teens
A look at how to spot the symptoms of schizophrenia in teens and how to tell the difference between ordinary teenage moodiness and signs of more serious illness.
- Schizophrenia Myths and Facts
Learn how to separate myths and facts about the causes and symptoms of schizophrenia.
- How to Avoid a Schizophrenia Relapse
Advice for caregivers and patients on how to avoid a relapse of schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenia Meds: What to Expect
Learn about the types of schizophrenia drugs, the kinds of symptoms they can treat, and side effects.
- Schizophrenia and Suicide
WebMD explains the connection between suicidal behavior and schizophrenia, including risk factors for suicide among people with schizophrenia and suicide prevention for people with schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenia Resources
WebMD offers links to more information and support for those with schizophrenia and their loved ones.
- Schizophrenia Types and Spectrum
Doctors used to talk about subtypes of schizophrenia, but times have changed. Find out about the schizophrenia spectrum.
- Schizophrenia: Choosing a Doctor and Therapist
WebMD guides you in finding a good doctor and therapist to help your loved one with schizophrenia.
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Schizophrenia
If you've just been diagnosed with schizophrenia, WebMD offers a list of questions you might want to ask your doctor.
- Schizophrenia Prognosis
Our understanding and treatment of schizophrenia has come a long way. Learn more about the prognosis for someone with schizophrenia and their chances of recovery at WebMD.
- Schizophrenia Symptoms
Schizophrenia changes how you think, feel, and act. Its symptoms are grouped as positive, negative, and cognitive. Not everyone will have the same symptoms, and they can come and go.
- What Is a Shared Psychotic Disorder?
WebMD explains shared psychotic disorder -- a condition in which an otherwise healthy person shares in the delusions of a person with psychosis -- including its symptoms and treatment.
- Delusional Disorder: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
Delusional disorder, previously called paranoid disorder, is a mental disorder in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this illness.
- What Is Schizophreniform Disorder?
You might think it’s schizophrenia, but schizophreniform disorder is different.
- ECT and Other Procedures for Schizophrenia
Get an overview of procedures to treat schizophrenia, including electroconvulsive therapy, deep brain stimulation (dbs), transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and magnetic seizure therapy.
- What Is a Psychotic Disorder?
WebMD explains symptoms of schizophrenia and closely related conditions. Learn what to watch for and when to seek help.
- What Is Brief Psychotic Disorder?
WebMD explains brief psychotic disorder, including its symptoms and treatment.
- Schizophrenia: An Overview
Schizophrenia is a fairly common and debilitating mental illness. Learn more, including causes, symptoms, types, and treatments.
- Schizoaffective Disorder: Causes, Signs, Treatment
Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which a person has the symptoms of schizophrenia as well as symptoms of a mood disorder such as mania or depression.