Schizophrenia is the most incomprehensible and unstudied disease mental nature. Every person knows that such a disease exists, but few can talk in detail about its specific manifestations. There are various forms of schizophrenia, from completely weak attempts to withdraw into oneself, to hide from society, family, to violent attacks of aggression, deep depression. This terrible disease can develop in children and older adults. But most often, mental disorder begins at a young age. The disease can develop over several years, and sometimes appear completely suddenly.

How to detect early manifestations of the disease

You began to notice that your interlocutors react somehow strangely to your actions and words. Relationships with loved ones have become strained. You begin to sleep anxiously at night and have nightmares. More and more often you begin to think about the question: have I gone crazy? The answer to such a question, of course, can only be given by a specialist, inviting you to undergo a psychiatric test at his appointment. And after a long study of all the symptoms, make a final diagnosis. Unfortunately, our mentality often prevents us from seeing a doctor of this profile in time, so there is a high probability of developing the disease. What to do if for some reason you are unable to visit a doctor. You can take a schizophrenia test yourself.

What online tests are there?

Test for the presence of the disease - a mask.

Instant determination of the presence of schizophrenia is given by this optical illusion. A British psychologist first proposed a very effective visual test called the Chaplin Mask. You're looking at a rotating mask where one side is convex and one side is concave. A healthy person succumbs to optical illusion and sees the mask as convex from the side where it is actually concave. The point is that human brain is not able to perceive a face as concave, so he completes a picture of a human face so that it seems ordinary. But a schizophrenic sees reality without distortion, that is, they see the face as concave, from the side where it should be. Interestingly, in this case, distorted reality and self-deception are a sign of a healthy person. People under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also see the mask without optical illusion.

To understand this phenomenon, German scientists conducted an experiment where they collected healthy people and volunteers with schizophrenia. During brain scans, subjects were shown both concave and convex 3D images. They had to determine which part of the face they see in at the moment. 99% of healthy people perceived the information as distorted, while patients almost accurately identified the correct parts. Scientists have concluded that healthy people active exchange of information between two areas of the brain, visual and frontoparietal, was activated when viewing a convex image. And in patients, activity remained at the same level.

Test for schizophrenia using pictures. Rorschach test.

This test is based on the inkblot technique. It was developed by the Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach back in the early 20th century. The essence of the test is that 10 pictures are presented, with black and white and color images, in the form of blots with clear symmetry, unlike any specific images.

During the passage psychological test The test taker answers questions about what he sees in the picture and what the image looks like. Does he see the whole picture or individual parts, do objects move? This test is the most common and can reveal the full picture. mental disorders person. Gives a lot of answers exciting issues of a personal nature.

Luscher Color Test.

This is one of the most informative and complete tests that determines the tendency to schizophrenia. Developed by Swiss psychologist Max Luscher back in the 40s of the last century. For for many years scientific activity The scientist deduced the relationship between color perception and the psycho-emotional state of a person. Using the test, you can identify the causes of stress, measure psychophysiological criteria, activity, and communication skills. There are currently 2 types of tests:

1. Short. The short version uses 8 colors: gray, dark blue, blue-green, red-yellow, yellow-red, red-blue, brown, black.
2. The complete one consists of 73 colors. From 7 color tables: gray, 8 colors, 4 primary colors, blue, green, yellow, red.

The subject chooses from the tables offered to him the most acceptable color for him at the moment. At the moment of choice, a person must be distracted from the influence of any factors influencing the perception of color. This means that you need to forget what colors you prefer in clothes, whether certain bright colors in clothes irritate you everyday life, but choose only the color that pleases you at this moment. After a few minutes, the procedure is repeated and the subject chooses colors in any order, without connecting his preferences with previous times. The first version of the psychological test for schizophrenia determines the desired state, and the second the actual one.

Cube - test for schizophrenia.

This test is essentially similar to the Chaplin Mask. A healthy person sees a rotating cube in a three-dimensional image, which goes against all the rules created by light and shadow. In fact, this is an illusion; the cube has 3 sides. People prone to schizophrenia do not succumb to optical illusion and see a real concave cube.

You can easily take online schizophrenia tests. This could become initial stage in diagnostics of this disease. Early detection this mental illness gives every chance of quick recovery. Whether you take the test results seriously or with a bit of irony, your further actions. In any case, if you are concerned about your condition, you should contact a specialist who will conduct a professional consultation and make a final diagnosis.

Everyone knows the unwritten truth - the earlier a disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. And schizophrenia is no exception. The only problem is that early stages it is very difficult to recognize schizophrenia, and only relatives of the sick person can do this, and only on condition that they know what the symptoms are early signs of this disease.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is not one disease, but a group of different mental disorders that manifest differently in each person. People often call the disease “splitting of the soul,” and indeed, the sick person turns into a completely different person, which neither friends nor relatives recognize. But such changes occur already in severe cases; in the early stages, a person’s behavior and thinking changes slightly, but still causes bewilderment among those who know him.

Unfortunately, today doctors and scientists cannot say for sure what is the cause of this disease. However, this does not mean that effective treatment impossible. One of the leading clinics for the treatment of schizophrenia in Moscow is Mental Health - the clinic has its own hospital and research laboratory. Also, the Alliance Center for Medical Care, the Preobrazhenie Clinic, and the Rosa Clinic are involved in the treatment of this disease.

Forms and symptoms: how to recognize schizophrenia?

How can we recognize schizophrenia among loved ones and thereby help a suffering person? You should know the main symptoms of schizophrenia and then, noticing changes in behavior loved one or a close friend, you will be able to seek help in time.

So, the main signs of schizophrenia depend on its form. Paranoid schizophrenia is characterized by the occurrence delusional states. A person who has fallen ill with this form of the disease is extremely suspicious, believes that there are enemies around him, and often sees hallucinations.

The depressive-paranoid form includes the previous symptoms and is supplemented depressed state consciousness. The patient is consumed by anxiety and a premonition of imminent disaster.

Circulatory schizophrenia causes an increased sense of superiority, talkativeness and agitation. Such people think that they are better than others and that everyone around them is jealous of them. But the signs of catatonic schizophrenia are complete apathy and inaction of a person who can remain in one position for hours or, conversely, inappropriate behavior(he can scream, sing, laugh for no reason).

The first "bells"

The above-described symptoms of schizophrenia become noticeable when the disease enters the active stage. However, schizophrenia may remain asymptomatic for many years. More precisely, almost asymptomatically - loved ones notice that something is wrong with the person.

In particular, the first sign of illness is severe headaches, panic fears, frequent change moods, increased anxiety and aggressiveness, directed first at loved ones and then at other people.

Relatives of the sick note that the person withdraws into himself, becomes uncommunicative, thoughtful and at the same time very often goes into conflicts, although this has not been observed in him before. At first these symptoms are temporary, but over time, moments of normal behavior become extremely rare.

The main symptom of the disease is a change in perception of reality. If your loved one begins to “talk about nonsense”, and at the same time is sure that this is how things really are, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. At the same time, a private psychiatric clinic - best choice, since in this case you are guaranteed confidentiality, professional diagnosis and competent treatment.

How to behave with a patient with schizophrenia?

Any doctor will tell you that noticing signs of schizophrenia in loved one, you should never laugh at him or convince him that he is wrong - this can provoke aggression and inappropriate behavior. You need to listen to him and reassure him if possible, and then consult a doctor. The psychiatric clinic has necessary conditions and medications in order to stop an attack of schizophrenia and help the patient come to his senses.

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How does schizophrenia manifest, symptoms of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is complex disease, in which it is difficult for a person to distinguish between what is real and unreal, to think clearly, to manage emotions, to treat others objectively, and it is actually impossible to live normally. But this does not mean that there is no hope with this disorder. Schizophrenia can be successfully managed. The first step is to identify the signs and symptoms. The second step is to seek help immediately, the third is to strictly adhere to treatment. At proper treatment and support, a person with schizophrenia is able to lead a happy, almost fulfilling life.

Usually schizophrenia changes inner world and human behavior. Changes in behavior may include the following:

1. Social self-isolation;
2. Depersonalization (a feeling of unreality, being in a foggy and fairy-tale state), sometimes accompanied by intense anxiety;
3. Loss of appetite;
4. Loss of hygiene;
5. Misconceptions;
6. Hallucinations (auditory or visual, feeling that something does not exist);
7. Feelings are controlled by external forces;
8. Disorganized speech.

At times, a person with schizophrenia may not appear to be ill; in other cases, the illness may be more obvious, particularly due to eccentric behavior. For example, the symptoms of schizophrenia in adults are quite obvious if a person wraps his head with foil in the hope that aluminum will protect thoughts from some harmful waves that are transmitted to his brain.

Schizophrenia: symptoms

Positive symptoms in the patient’s behavior may appear and disappear. You need an accurate understanding of what to expect from a schizophrenic so that you can take action in time. People who have the disease overt schizophrenia have very different symptoms, since patients differ from each other in their behavior, but by and large, they all cannot control the disease. IN active stage, the victim unleashes a stream of illogical sentences on others or reacts with uncontrollable anger and violence to a perceived threat. Patients may also experience relatively passive phases of the disease, in which they seem to lack personality, movement, and emotions (so-called flat affect). People with schizophrenia may alternate between these extremes. Their behavior is sometimes predictable, sometimes absolutely sporadic.

Clustering of schizophrenia symptoms

• Negative symptoms in schizophrenia (or deficit symptoms): Social self-isolation, difficulty in expressing emotions (in extreme cases so-called blunted affect), difficulties in self-care, inability to experience pleasure. These symptoms are caused by serious mental disorders and are often mistaken for laziness.
• Cognitive symptoms: Difficulty attending and processing information, understanding environment and remembering simple tasks.

Fragmentation of thinking is characteristic of this mental disorder. When medical students are taught how to identify schizophrenia, they are always advised to observe the way the person speaks. Patients typically have problems concentrating and maintaining thoughts. They may respond to queries with an unrelated answer, start sentences on one topic and end somewhere completely different, speak incoherently, or say illogical things. General signs disorganized speech in schizophrenia includes free associations, rapid transition from topic to topic, without connecting a single thought between several. Neologisms are ready-made words or phrases that only have meaning for the patient. Perseveration - repetition of words and statements; saying the same thing over and over again. Meaningless use of rhyme.

Helpful Definitions in Understanding Schizophrenia

Psychosis: Psychosis is defined as a feeling of being disconnected from reality. During this phase, one may experience delusions or severe hallucinations. People with psychosis do not know that what they experience or some of the things they think are happening are not actually real. Psychosis is a prominent feature of schizophrenia, but is not a condition unique to the disease.

Schizoid Personality Disorder: This term is often used to describe a personality disorder that is characterized by complete absence interest in social relations and a limited range of emotional expression in interpersonal settings, which makes a person with this disorder cold and uncaring.

Schizotypal disorder: This term defines a personality disorder that is characterized by acute discomfort in relationships, as well as disturbances in perception, odd beliefs, and fancy shapes behavior. Often people with schizotypal personality disorder are seen as unusual and eccentric due to their unusual mannerisms and beliefs, and these are not uncommon symptoms of schizophrenia in women.

Hallucinations: Patients may experience too much objects or events that are actually real only to them. Symptoms of schizophrenia in men who have fought may include experiences of events that are only real to them. Hallucinations may also involve visual images, hearing, smell, taste or touch. Have no hallucinations external source, and are sometimes described as "brain tricks" human tricks. Research shows that auditory hallucinations occur when people misinterpret their internal self-talk as coming from an external source.

Illusion: An illusion is a false perception for which there is an actual external stimulus. For example, visual illusion after seeing a shadow and misinterpreting it as a person. The words illusion and hallucination are sometimes confused with each other. Similar types of schizophrenia, but the symptoms are still different.

Delusion: A person with delusion has a strong belief about something, despite evidence that this belief is completely false. For example, a person may listen to the radio and believe that the radio is giving a coded message about an impending alien invasion. All other people who listen to the same radio program will hear, for example, an essay about road repair work taking place in the Moscow region.

Conditions that may look like schizophrenia

Medical and psychological conditions that a doctor must rule out before making a diagnosis of schizophrenia include:

Other psychotic disorders - schizophrenia, if you look at its symptoms on any video, is a type of psychotic disorder, that is, it involves a significant loss of contact with reality. But there are other psychotic disorders that cause similar symptoms of psychosis, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, and brief psychotic disorder. Due to difficulties in differentiating between psychotic disorders, final diagnosis may take six months or longer.

Abuse psychoactive substances- Psychotic symptoms can be caused by many drugs, including alcohol, PCP, heroin, amphetamines and cocaine. If you want to know how schizophrenia and its symptoms begin, go on an excursion to any specialized dispensary where people who use these substances that kill personality and health are observed. But some prescription drugs can also cause unwanted psychotic reactions. A toxicology screen can rule out drug-induced psychosis. If there is an understanding of the patient's substance abuse, the doctor will determine whether the drug is the source of the symptoms or simply an aggravating factor.

Medical conditions - Schizophrenia, its symptoms can also be the result of certain neurological disorders(eg, epilepsy, brain tumors, and encephalitis), endocrine and metabolic disorders and autoimmune conditions that negatively affect the central nervous system.

Mood disorders - look like initial stage schizophrenia and its symptoms. The illness often includes changes in mood, including mania and depression. Although these mood changes are generally less severe than those caused by bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Schizophrenia is particularly difficult to distinguish from bipolar disorder. Positive symptoms schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations and disorganized speech) may look like a manic episode of bipolar disorder, while negative symptoms schizophrenia (apathy, social withdrawal, and low energy) may look like a depressive episode.

Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) - PTSD is anxiety disorder, which can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, such as combat, accidents, or violent acts - there are known cases where schizophrenia manifests itself in women after violence. People with PTSD, their images, sensations of smells and sounds, memories, are sometimes similar to schizophrenics with their hallucinations, however, these are completely different states.

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How can you recognize a schizophrenic (schizophrenia)?

Understanding how to recognize a schizophrenic among others is very important. And not at all in order to avoid this person or make fun of him. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that can greatly change consciousness and even force a person to take actions that are unusual for him, sometimes life-threatening. Once you determine that someone has symptoms of schizophrenia, you can promptly provide them with qualified diagnosis, observation by a psychologist, or medical care.

To determine whether a person is schizophrenic, you need to know how schizophrenia manifests itself. But there is one nuance here. Most of the symptoms of this disease are significantly enhanced behaviors of healthy people. After all, every person has anxiety or aggression. In a healthy person, these types of behavior are normal. In a schizophrenic, they either go beyond the norm, that is, they are of a pathological nature, or they manifest themselves inadequately, not corresponding to the situation.

It is important to understand that schizophrenia is a diagnosis, not a definition strange people. Therefore, in no case should you take responsibility by calling a person schizophrenic. Only a doctor can determine this. A person incompetent in this matter can only assume the presence of a disease and recommend visiting a specialist.

To know how a person suffering from schizophrenia differs from healthy people, it is necessary to determine the main signs of schizophrenia in adults and children. Because accurate diagnosis it cannot be diagnosed during visual contact with a person; attention should be paid to the most striking manifestations of the disease.

Main manifestations of schizophrenia

One of the main manifestations of schizophrenia is the presence of hallucinations in a person. They can be not only visual, but also auditory. Moreover, the second option is much more common. Patients often hear voices or dialogues in their heads. Usually they are illogical and can push a person to commit rash and non-standard actions.

When such a symptom appears, schizophrenics are usually unaware of the true nature of these voices. They believe that aliens or deities are talking to them, for example. They are confident in the correctness of all those actions that are imposed on them, even if it is jumping from a roof, etc.

Hallucinations in schizophrenia may also be accompanied by absurd and confused thoughts, called delusions. It represents the presence of illogical statements in which the schizophrenic sees clearly formulated thoughts. Sometimes such delusions can be paranoid in nature. In this case, the patient feels that he is being persecuted, that they want to kill him or take him to some world he himself has imagined.

Another version of delusion may be exalting oneself or someone from the environment. A schizophrenic may enthusiastically talk about how he is a messenger who will save the world, or a secret agent from another planet. All these stories will be intrusive, and if people around them reveal a lack of trust in these ideas, the patient may show strong aggression.

In addition, delusion can manifest itself in the form of jealousy. Having this symptom, a schizophrenic will be pathologically jealous of his partner. He will confidently talk about his significant other’s love affairs with a neighbor, a janitor, a salesman at a nearby store, etc. It is often impossible to convince such a person otherwise.

A symptom of schizophrenia can also be the identification of a hyper-significant personality by a person suffering from this disease. She may not only be a family member or acquaintance. It could be stranger, whom the schizophrenic will consider his master, mentor. He will be ready to unquestioningly carry out his instructions, believing in their righteousness. Because of this, the patient can become very vulnerable and fall under the influence of others.

All these symptoms characterize the most complex and profound form of the disease. Their manifestation may indicate a high percentage of probability of a person having the disease. But there are other types of schizophrenia, which differ in other signs and symptoms. They usually appear less intensely. Thus, in the first stage of schizophrenia, patients are often characterized by inappropriate behavior without visible disorders of consciousness.

Peculiarities of behavior of schizophrenics

The main behavioral features of people suffering from mild forms of schizophrenia include the following:

apathy towards people around you and work activity;

isolation and reluctance to communicate;

sudden and unreasonable outbursts of aggression;

catatonia.

This list is far from complete, since schizophrenia has many more behavioral changes. However, many of them border so much on the norm that it is almost impossible to identify a pathological character in them.

One of the most striking manifestations of schizophrenia is apathy. It can affect absolutely all areas of a person’s life. A person may become indifferent to communicating with other people, lose interest in activities that he was previously passionate about, and give up work or study. At the same time, a person does not feel the need to communicate with the outside world, he withdraws into himself and is ready to be completely alone for days. This state seems comfortable to him.

Vivid signs of schizophrenia

Aggression may also be a sign of schizophrenia. Moreover, it is usually spontaneous and does not depend in any way on the situation in which the patient is. Such aggression is not controlled by a schizophrenic. In this state, he can easily harm both himself and others.

Subsequently, he may not even remember what happened to him. In order to somehow explain these actions to themselves, schizophrenics give them a defensive character. They believe that this is the only way they can protect themselves from external threats. Moreover, these threats can sometimes be absurd. The patient may believe that some object or even color is causing him harm. He will avoid him in every possible way and be afraid of meeting him, considering it a mortal threat.

The catatonic state as a manifestation of schizophrenia is a movement disorder. It may be characterized by continuous movements that may develop into obsessive-compulsive disorder. Having this symptom, the patient constantly makes some movements, which are often meaningless. He may walk in circles around the room, fingering beads, or washing his hands.

Another option is catatonic stupor. In this case, the schizophrenic freezes in some position, which can be completely uncomfortable and unnatural. The patient can remain in this position for several hours without responding to calls to him. Of course, this condition can also be a consequence of stress, but if it is systematic, then we can speak with great confidence about the presence of schizophrenia. This symptom answers the question of how to recognize schizophrenia.

All these manifestations and symptoms enable anyone to understand how to recognize a schizophrenic among healthy people. However, they are not the last resort for making a diagnosis. They can only indicate the presence of a mental illness, including schizophrenia, and become a prerequisite for visiting a psychiatrist or psychologist.

At the first manifestation of these symptoms in a loved one, you should immediately consult a doctor for advice.

It is impossible to delay with this issue, since you can aggravate the condition when the first stage of schizophrenia develops into an incurable pathology.

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How to identify schizophrenia by behavior

Modern methods of therapy make it possible to stop the manifestations of schizophrenia for a long time

Schizophrenia is a real scourge of our time. It sneaks up on a person unnoticed and distorts his reality. Unfortunately, this disease still has no cure, but it can be kept under control. True, for this you need to recognize it in time!

Of course, only specialists can diagnose such a serious mental illness. But you can take a quick test to know you have nothing to worry about!

What is schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has many forms and variations. But the main sign of this complex mental disorder is that a person’s idea of ​​reality and his own personality completely changes

The whole difficulty of diagnosing schizophrenia lies in the fact that few people are able to adequately assess their mental state. A true schizophrenic is absolutely sure that he is healthy. Moreover, he is convinced of his exclusivity and special great mission on Earth

This is how it turns out that many people simply do not reach specialists. Of course, they suspect that something is wrong with them, but they attribute their “strange” state to stress, fatigue, or some other external reasons. A insidious disease meanwhile progresses and completely changes their lives.

Not every psychiatrist can correctly diagnose schizophrenia. What can we say about ordinary people? Therefore, having noticed danger signs yourself or your friends, it is best not to panic, but to seek advice from good specialists.

How does schizophrenia begin?

Nothing is really known about the causes of schizophrenia. Psychiatrists say that most often genetics, coupled with stress, are to blame.

Typically, the first signs of schizophrenia appear between 18 and 35 years of age. But this mental illness can occur in absolutely any person at any time in his life. In the case of childhood schizophrenia, odd behavior is often attributed to awkward age or character traits.

The initial signs of schizophrenia are difficult to notice. But most often the following happens.

The person withdraws into himself and avoids communicating with people. He does not make contact well and loses interest in everything that previously brought him joy.

All physical sensations become dull: such people may not notice hunger, and also forget to wash and change clothes on time.

A person may show inappropriate emotions: for example, the most innocent question causes irritation and aggression in him.

Important: this behavior is not unique to people with schizophrenia. This can be the behavior of a child who has experienced psychological trauma, a rebellious teenager, or an adult during depression.

Therefore, if you notice the above signs in someone, you should not immediately suspect schizophrenia. Such behavior only indicates that something is happening in a person’s soul. Perhaps you should talk to him and convince him to see a psychologist to get rid of stress and trauma.

True schizophrenia is manifested not only by these signs. When making a diagnosis, psychiatrists also pay attention to two types clinical symptoms: big and small.

How to recognize a schizophrenic: rapid test

This special rapid test will help you independently assess your risk of developing schizophrenia. Just remember that its results are just a reason to think about your mental health and contact a professional!

So, to make a preliminary diagnosis, carefully review this list of schizophrenia symptoms and mentally check the box where you agree with the description.

Symptoms of a large circle

Hallucinations (vocal, less often visual). A person can either understand that the voices in his head are only imaginary, or believe that he is talking to an invisible interlocutor. The main danger is that the VOICE can not only tell something, but also give directive instructions. For example, ordering someone to be harmed.

Echo of thoughts. This special feeling the fact that one's own thoughts are repeated or echoed (but not spoken out loud) at short intervals. In addition, a person can feel the “OPENNESS” of thoughts. In this case, it seems to him that those around him can know everything he is thinking about. Sometimes the patient believes that those around him deliberately control his thoughts: they erase them from memory or, conversely, put their own into his head.

Delirium of influence. A person is convinced that someone or something is CONTROLLING him. He can tell others that he was hypnotized, programmed, or specially exposed to some kind of rays.

Delusional ideas. The schizophrenic sincerely believes in his great MISSION. He must uncover a Masonic conspiracy, save the world from aliens, decipher messages from unknown civilizations, invent a time machine, and so on. Often a schizophrenic comes to the conclusion that everyone around him does not understand anything; he alone sees the TRUTH.

Small circle symptoms

Strange speech structures. A person is trying to explain something very important to him, but completely INCOMPREHENSIVE to others, since there is no logical connection between the phrases. Sometimes words are used that he himself invented, something like: “Varkalos. The flimsy little shorts were darting across the nave...”

Slow reaction. A person stops reacting to others and can sit for a long time and look at one point. In some cases, he falls into a STUPOR to the point of complete immobility.

Persistent illusions. They arise when the patient’s brain completes its own REALITY. For example, a schizophrenic may feel that people on the streets periodically grow horns or that his things come to life at night.

Negative symptoms. They are called so because a person gradually LOSSES skills: he becomes less emotional, loses interest in work, practically does not communicate with people, etc.

Express test result: on POSSIBLE schizophrenia indicates the presence of AT LEAST one big symptom in combination with two small ones.

In any case, the presence of any of these signs is a clear reason to go to a psychiatrist to figure out what exactly is going on.

How to deal with a schizophrenic

Having discovered a schizophrenic next to you, it is important to remember that some forms of this disease lead to exacerbations. At this time, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves especially strongly, and the person himself seems to fall out of reality.

Since the patient does not understand what he is doing, it is impossible to predict his behavior. In the worst case scenario, a schizophrenic person may show aggression, which can be directed both at other people and at themselves.

What to do in this case? Call an ambulance psychiatric care! In the meantime, the doctors are on their way to try to establish trusting contact and reassure the patient.

Under no circumstances should you prove to a schizophrenic that everything in reality is not at all what he thinks. Not only will he not believe you, but he will also count you among his enemies. Do you need it? Better try to play along with the person. For example, if he believes that he has invented a time machine, ask him to be sure to take you with him when he goes back in time, since you have a lot of unfinished business there.…

It also happens that a person is perfectly aware of reality, but at the same time periodically demonstrates certain symptoms of schizophrenia. Try to persuade him (for his own peace of mind!) to undergo an examination by a psychiatrist. This is difficult, but extremely necessary. If the patient refuses to go to the doctor, do everything possible to start his treatment: invite specialists to his home, go to private clinics, motivate him with anything

Modern methods of therapy make it possible to stop the manifestations of schizophrenia for a long time. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact professionals in a timely manner!

Schizophrenia, like any mental illness, has its own symptoms, which can only be considered in combination. Single manifestations taken out of the general context are not signs only, but may correspond to the symptoms of others mental illness.

Scientists are looking for ways to diagnose schizophrenia, offering various test methods. However, none of them can accurately determine schizophrenia.

The first ones begin to appear already in childhood and adolescence. To already determine schizophrenia, you need to know the features of its manifestation.

External manifestations of schizophrenia: symptoms and signs

Schizophrenia differs from other mental illnesses in the variety of forms and the long period of time of its onset. The first ones usually shock the patient’s relatives. This reaction is understandable, since none of the people are ready to accept this disease into their family. Therefore, when faced with the first signs, they reject even the thought of the disease, explaining the problems as overwork or stress.

This situation is fraught with consequences, as the symptoms will increase and the person’s well-being will worsen.

As a rule, patients with schizophrenia experience several groups of symptoms:

1. Psychotic. This group includes signs that are completely absent in healthy people: delusions, obsessions,...

Delusional ideas are not based on real situations, but are completely fictitious. Patients with schizophrenia create their own picture of the world around them. Patients develop aggressive tendencies: the person feels inferior and believes that the whole world wishes him harm.

Hallucinations can be of several types:

• visual, when a schizophrenic sees non-existent objects, people, animals or other creatures;
• auditory, in which a person with schizophrenia hears voices or sounds that do not exist in reality;
• tactile, causing non-existent pain and sensations in patients (burns, blows, touches);
• olfactory, in which patients feel certain odors.

1. Disorganized. This group of symptoms characterizes a situation of inadequate reaction to what is happening due to problems with mental operations. Patients with schizophrenia may say meaningless things, and accompanying this aggressive behavior. Even with meaningful positions, the patient’s speech is fragmentary in nature without the possibility of its systematization. Schizophrenics cannot establish a sequence of actions. They are distracted.
2. Emotional symptoms. Patients with schizophrenia exhibit abnormal emotional reactions on what is happening: a person can experience joy at a funeral and negativity in positive situations. Another characteristic component is the state of affect in patients with schizophrenia. Situations often arise when patients with schizophrenia exhibit suicidal tendencies.

The appearance of signs of schizophrenia should alert loved ones and make them want to seek help from a specialist.

Diagnosis of schizophrenia

Given the variety of forms of schizophrenia, when diagnosing this disease, it is necessary to take into account the complex of symptoms that are observed in patients for six months. Single manifestations do not characterize the disease.

First of all, experts pay attention to mental disorders: thoughts, general mood, the presence of hallucinations, movement disorders, disorders of mental operations. Special attention at the same time deserves a common emotional state person.

The presence of schizophrenia in relatives speaks in favor of the disease.

When defining schizophrenia, it is worth distinguishing this disease from schizotic conditions and psychotic disorders. The signs of these deviations are similar in many respects, but their main difference is that such conditions last about two weeks, and people recover from them on their own, without the help of a doctor.

However, the presence of psychotic and schizotic disorders is an indicator of the possibility of the onset of schizophrenia, which should cause caution in both the patient and his environment.

Delusional disorders can be a symptom of schizophrenia, or they can characterize obsessions. Delirium can be caused by brain diseases that are easy to identify. In schizophrenia, brain diseases are not detected.

Signs of the hebephrenic form of schizophrenia are movement disorders that are not controlled by volitional manifestations. The patient may make grimaces and make caricature movements. In this case, manifestations of inadequate emotional reactions are observed.

The symptoms are similar to those of schizophrenia. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between these states.

When defining schizophrenia, you need to remember that it is characterized by manifestations in almost all areas of human existence:

• apathy towards one’s own personality: sloppiness, strange style of clothing, lack of self-care, lack of interest in life;
• disruption of communication, lack of trust in people;
• fragmented thinking and incoherent speech, the presence of neologisms (new invented words), meaningless texts;
• conflicting emotions that are inappropriate to the situation;
• anxiety;
• changes in behavior characterized as eccentricity and foolishness;
• suspicion.

Schizophrenia is very specific disease. To determine it, it is necessary to take into account all the signs in a complex, which led to the need to develop tests for schizophrenia.

Tests for schizophrenia have been developed and improved over several decades. Some tests have gone through a lot of modifications and changes, while others are considered ineffective. On modern stage There are many tests currently being tested.

Let's look at the most common tests for schizophrenia:

• Mask. The essence of the test is that a person is shown a mask with the concave side facing the patient. normal person immediately reacts to color, shadows, refraction of light and perceives the back of the mask as convex. A person with schizophrenia has a split consciousness, and he does not unite the play of color and shadow and perceives the reverse side as a concave part.
• Luscher test. Color test offers a set of eight different colors, from which you need to choose the color you like, arranging the color range according to your degree of liking. It is important that the colors are normal without any glare or spots. The mechanism of this test is such that a person chooses a color on an unconscious level. Therefore, Luscher's results can be considered reliable.

Speaking about color preferences, it should be noted that schizophrenics perceive color in a unique way. Patients with schizophrenia may exhibit negativism towards certain colors or show irritation. Sometimes they completely abstract colors. Therefore, attitudes towards color can also be an indicator of schizotic disorders or the disease schizophrenia itself.

First stage of schizophrenia. Mastery

From the usual, predictable real world the patient enters a distorted, phantasmagoric world of visions, hallucinations, unusual colors and unusual proportions. Not only his world is changing - he himself is changing. With the rapid course of schizophrenia, in his own eyes the patient becomes a hero or an outcast, the savior of the universe or the victim of the universe.

If changes occur gradually, the first stage of schizophrenia may be dominated by anxiety, confusion and fear: something wrong is clearly happening with the world around us, people’s motives are unclear, but they don’t bode well, in general, you need to prepare for either defense or flight .

The first stage of schizophrenia can be called a period of discoveries and insights. The patient seems to see the essence of things and the true meaning of events. There is no place for routine and calm in this phase. The discovery of a new world can be wonderful (for example, with a feeling of omnipotence) or terrible (with the realization of the insidious plans of enemies who allegedly poison the patient, kill him with rays or read his thoughts), but it is simply impossible to calmly survive such changes.

It happens that after experiencing a bright, stormy phase of mastery, the patient completely returns to normal life. And with an unfavorable course of schizophrenia, short, almost imperceptible periods of mastery and adaptation are quickly replaced by a long phase of degradation.
Second stage of schizophrenia. Adaptation

No matter how turbulent the course of schizophrenia is, sooner or later the patient gets used to the changes taking place. The sense of novelty is lost. At the second stage of schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations and other manifestations of the disease become commonplace. The illusory world no longer obscures reality. The two realities coexist more or more peacefully in the patient’s mind.

This stage of schizophrenia is characterized by the so-called “dual orientation”: the patient can see an evil alien in a neighbor, and, at the same time, an old acquaintance, Uncle Misha.

Regardless of the course of schizophrenia, the result of therapy largely depends on what the patient chooses: the real world or the world of illusions. If nothing keeps the patient in the real world, he simply has no need to return to reality.

Besides, this stage schizophrenia is accompanied by preseveration (repetition of the same words, gestures and facial expressions that are not related to the current situation) and stereotypical behavior. The more severe the course of schizophrenia, the more stereotypical the patient’s behavior becomes.
Third stage of schizophrenia. Degradation

In this phase, emotional dullness comes to the fore. The time of onset of the third stage depends on both the form and the course of schizophrenia. Signs of emotional and then intellectual degradation quickly develop in hebephrenic and simple forms of the disease. Patients with catatonic and paranoid form, especially with a favorable course of schizophrenia, they can remain emotionally and intellectually intact for a long time.

At the third stage, the patient seems to burn out from the inside: hallucinations fade, the expression of emotions becomes even more stereotypical. Space and time lose their significance.
For any type of schizophrenia, the third phase is unfavorable in terms of prognosis. However, thoughtful rehabilitation gives patients the opportunity to exist in society. In some cases (usually after severe emotional upheaval), a short-term or sustained return to normal life is possible.
This test is complete crap

How do doctors understand that they are dealing with a patient with schizophrenia? It is not always possible to determine “schizo” by external signs, so experts use a number of tests. The most popular of them are presented below.

Instructions (important!): When answering a question, be guided by your feelings, not logic.

So the question is:

“Is the mask convex on one side or both?”

Correct answer:

The mask shown in the image is convex on one side only

“Does the mask rotate one way or both?”

Correct answer:

The mask rotates only to the right.

Analysis of results

If you answered both questions wrong- hurray, you are absolutely healthy! Artificial forms and shadows in the picture mislead the brain, and it exhibits a healthy reaction - it “completes” reality and, therefore, makes mistakes. In our favor :).

If the correct answers were given to both questions... The brain of a schizophrenic cannot analyze the whole picture and complete reality. As a result, a person sees the mask only as it really is. Such a person is, of course, unhealthy.

But don't rush to conclusions! Let's figure it out. Did you really see NOTHING other than a convex mask rotating in one direction? It is quite possible that you simply answered at random or saw an illusion, but still decided to get to the bottom of the correct answer, looked for a long time and came to a conclusion. Besides, optical illusion will not work if you have been drinking or under the influence of drugs.

There is a third conclusion - you... genius! A brilliant person has the thinking of both a healthy person and someone with schizophrenia, and is able to instantly switch between them. In our case, the genius will see the illusion (healthy reaction), but will be able to figure out what’s going on and where the mask is rotating (schizophrenic reaction). Moreover, if he wants, he will simply stop accepting deception once and for all!

Important Note: the results of all tests on this page do not diagnose you with 100% accuracy; this can only be done by a qualified specialist or a medical consultation. Please treat the results as food for thought and not as a diagnosis!

... Not so long ago, a new test for schizophrenia was developed in the UK - the “Chaplin Mask”. Look at the image below and say - mask with reverse side convex or concave?

Correct answer:

A healthy person will see that the back of the mask is pink and convex. As in the previous example, there is an optical illusion here (the brain is misled by rounded shapes and shadows).

2. Luscher test

The method was developed in the 1940s. Swiss psychologist Max Lüscher. The scientist noticed that depending on the psycho-emotional state, a person perceives colors differently.

The Luscher test exists in two versions: short and full.

Short version: the patient comes to the doctor during the day (since natural light is required). The doctor ensures uniformity of lighting and absence of sun glare. The patient is offered numbered cards in eight colors - black, brown, red, yellow, green, gray, blue and purple. His task is to distribute cards in accordance with personal preferences at the current moment, and nothing else.

The full version includes 73 colors (various shades of gray, the eight colors mentioned above, and a mix of the four primary colors - red, green, blue and yellow). They are grouped into tables, which are transmitted to the patient one after another. His task is to choose from each table one color that he likes best. After a few minutes, the test is repeated again. This way the doctor will understand what condition the patient is really in, because... for the first time a person chose colors for the state in which he would like to be.

Luscher test video:

What colors do schizophrenics choose?

Most often they prefer colors yellow. Patients with schizophrenia sluggish form They are indifferent to colors and confuse shades; in progressive cases, they perceive black and red negatively.

In addition, a good doctor will also look at the colors of the patient’s clothing during testing. You should be wary when observing extremes: inexpressive and boring or bright and incompatible shades.

3. Rorschach test

Another very good test from a Swiss psychologist (they know a lot about “chiz” in Switzerland!). The patient is shown 10 cards with pictures in the form of black and white and color blots; they are presented in strict order. The doctor sets a task - carefully, slowly look at the card and answer the question “What does it look like?” The technique is highly valued by specialists - using it, they not only see the whole picture of a particular person’s psychopathologies, but also receive answers to many personal questions.

Here is a test using one picture as an example:

But full version with comments:

4. Test drawing

A very revealing test. Schizophrenics, as noted above, confuse colors and shades: their sun may be black (a sign of fear and depression), trees may be purple, and grass may be red.