Schizophrenia Medical Reference

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have some things in common, but there are important differences that affect your everyday life. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of these mental health disorders.

Sometimes you can lose touch with reality but not have what most people think of as a mental illness. Find out what causes this and how to treat it.

Find out more about catatonia, a group of symptoms that can involve a lack of movement or communication.

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.

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.

What Is Anosognosia? It's well known that many people with a serious mental illness, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, don't take their prescribed medication. One major reason for this behavior is anosognosia, a word of Greek origin that roughly translates to "without knowledge of disease." You may also hear it called "lack of insight." What it boils down to is that the person is unaware of their condition and unable to accept it.Someone with anosognosia isn't simply in denial or being stubborn. Their brain can't process the fact that their thoughts and moods don’t reflect reality. Who's at Risk

While you shouldn't give up your medication and talk therapy, there might be other ways to help manage your symptoms, too.

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.

Find out what kinds of symptoms you might have weeks or even years before a full-blown case of schizophrenia begins.

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.

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.

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.

If someone you’re close to has schizophrenia, you can take these steps to help them keep taking their medicines.

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.

Could your schizophrenia medicines interact with other drugs you take? WebMD shows you the warning signs, and when to call your doctor.

Caring For Someone With Schizophrenia. WebMD describes the top things you can do to help.

If your loved one is having a psychotic episode, who do you call? WebMD explains what you. need to know

What causes schizophrenia? It usually isn’t one thing. Learn about the genetics, environmental factors, and other neurological changes in the brain that contribute to schizophrenia.

How do doctors know when someone has schizophrenia? WebMD explains what they look for.

WebMD provides an overview of medications currently used to treat schizophrenia, including side effects.

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.

Tardive dyskinesia (orofacial dyskinesia) is a sometimes permanent side effect of antipsychotic medications that involves involuntary muscle movements. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of this condition.

Psychosis is a mental condition that causes you to lose touch with reality. WebMD explains the causes and treatment of psychosis.

Drugs for schizophrenia and other mental health problems can cause a rare but serious reaction. WebMD shows you how to spot neuroleptic malignant syndrome and how it's treated.

The onset of schizophrenia typical begins during adolescence or early adulthood, but it starts at different ages for men and women. Learn more about the early signs of schizophrenia onset at WebMD.