Schizophrenia Overview
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Schizophrenia is a type of mental illness in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. At times, people with psychotic disorders lose touch with reality. The world may seem like a jumble of confusing thoughts, images, and sounds. It typically first appears in the teenage years or early 20s. The disorder affects men and women equally, although symptoms generally appear earlier in men. Schizophrenia occurs in about 1% of the population with approximately 2.2 million Americans currently having schizophrenia.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Helpful information to know about symptoms of schizophrenia:
- Talking in sentences that do not make sense or using nonsense words, making it difficult for the person to communicate or engage in conversation
- Shifting quickly from one thought to the next
- Writing excessively but without meaning
- Forgetting or losing things
- Repeating movements or gestures, such as pacing or walking in circles
- Having problems making sense of everyday sights, sounds, and feelings
- Poor executive functioning (the ability to understand information make decisions)
- Trouble focusing or paying attention
- Difficulty with working memory (using information immediately after learning it)
- Lack of emotion or a very limited range of emotions
- Withdrawal from family, friends, and social activities
- Reduced energy, speech and motivation
- Loss of pleasure or interest in life
- Poor hygiene and grooming habits
Research Studies
Helpful information to know about our research studies:
- No insurance needed to receive medical care (if you qualify for a study).
- Obtain medical care and a free psychiatric evaluation and physical exam
- No-cost medications
- Gain access to research treatments before they are widely available.
- Receive compensation for time and travel (at least $50 per visit).
Participate in a Study
To be considered for a research study, please complete the following information:
For more information or to find out if you qualify, please contact Nicole at (636) 946-8032.