Schizophrenia
Introduction Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder that alters an individual's perception, thought, affect and behaviour. Onset is usually between adolescence and early adulthood. Most patients fluctuate between acute episodes and remission. Residual symptoms may present between episodes. Risk Factors Family history of schizophrenia. Substance-induced psychoses associated with cannabis, hallucinogens and amphetamines. Increasing paternal age. Most urban environment. Refugee and migrant status. History of obstetric complications, e.g. pre-eclampsia and extreme prematurity. Prenatal exposure to infections, e.g. Herpes Simplex (HSV-2) and toxoplasma gondii. History of childhood central nervous system infection. Symptoms The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) identifies 5 symptoms for diagnosis. At least 2 of the following symptoms must be present for at least 1 month , and Delusions Hallucinations Disorganized speech (e.g. frequent derailment or in...