Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder characterized by the breakdown of thought processes, emotional reactivity and contact with reality. The term schizophrenia itself means “fragmented mind.” A person with this disorder has difficulty deciphering what is “real” and what is “unreal.” (Gur & Johnson, 2006) Symptoms of schizophrenia can be divided into five categories: psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive disorders, mood problems, and behavioral disorders. No two people with schizophrenia have the same symptoms; each person is unique. Symptoms may vary in intensity and progress over time. (Mueser & Gingerich, 2006) Psychotic symptoms, also called positive symptoms, include perceptions or beliefs that reflect a break with reality and are not shared by people without mental illness. The two types of psychotic symptoms are hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are false perceptions that one person experiences but not others. They include hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling things that are not present in the environment. Delusions are misconceptions and seem completely real to the person with schizophrenia, but seem impossible or false to others. Drugs such as LSD, marijuana, ecstasy, crack, and amphetamines can cause symptoms that closely resemble schizophrenia. (Mueser & Gingerich, 2006)Negative symptoms are characterized by the absence of typical feelings, thoughts and behaviors. People with schizophrenia no longer feel pleasure or enjoyment. They lack motivation to achieve their personal goals and daily tasks. They are forgetful and have difficulty initiating conversations. Another symptom, cognitive impairment, includes poor insight, poor social perception and ...... middle of paper ...... simple therapy are just a few that are available. A 2004 Consumer Reports survey found that the combination of therapy and medication is most effective in improving a patient's life. Hospital stays are typically used to diagnose and stabilize any medications that may be used. Stays can also be used to determine the next step in the patient's life, whether that be housing or therapy plans. Recovering from schizophrenia involves controlling psychotic symptoms through treatment and trying to maintain a daily lifestyle as much as possible. (Gur & Johnson, 2006) Works Cited Gur, RE and Johnson, AB (2006). If your teenager suffers from schizophrenia. New York: Oxford University Press. Landau, E. (2004). Schizophrenia. New York: Scholastic Library Publishing. Mueser, K.T. and Gingerich, S. (2006). The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia. New York: The Guilford Press.