John Nash, Nobel prize winner, genius mathematician had Schizophrenia. He was played by

Russell Crowe in  the movie about his life  ” A Beautiful Mind”.

Question & Answer Post

Question

My whole family is very upset. My 19 year old brother is in the hospital. He can home from his freshman year at college and was acting very strange. He talks to himself and makes weird movements with his hands. My mother and I met with his psychiatrist who said my brother has schizophrenia and both positive and negative symptoms. Can you explain the difference between these? He gave some examples but I still don’t understand.

Answer

This is one of the problems with using Jargon, non-medical people don’t understand and often don’t ask. They become more confused and worried. Schizophrenia actually can have many types of symptoms.

Schizophrenia usually develops slowly over months or even years. At first, the symptoms may not be noticed. For example, people may feel tense, may have trouble sleeping, or have trouble concentrating. They become isolated and withdrawn, and they do not make or keep friends. As the illness progresses symptoms develop.

Schizophenia cannot be cured but can be controlled. Acute episodes of schizophrenia look different then a person in remission (period with no symptoms). In remission persons with schizophrenia often can not be identified as mentally ill. Persons in an acute state are obviously mentally ill.

Symptoms are often describes as three types, positive, negative or cognitive.

“Positive Symptoms“

Positive symptoms must be present (or have been present at one time) to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms refers to the presence of a symptom that is psychotic (out of touch with reality). These are the symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorder.

• Delusion are false beliefs that are held despite solid evidence to the contrary. An example of a delusion might be a belief that the CIA is watching you.
• Hallucinations are false perceptions, such as hearing things that are not really there. Hallucinations can be auditory (hearing), visual (seeing) olfactory (smelling) or tactile (feeling).
• Thought Disorder is a commonsymptom of schizophrenia . This is a disturbance in the process of thought. Symptoms may include the inablility to think clearly or stay on topic. Sometimes a person with schizophrenia may believe their thoughts are being broadcast so others can here them. Thought disorder may be identified by confused speech, and behavior that does not make sense. Thought disorder makes it difficult for persons with schizophrenia to express themselves, and to understand and communicate with others.

“Negative symptoms”

Negative symptoms are the absence of a “normal” behavior or ability. Such symptoms include: lack of emotion, slow speech with little spontaneity or detail, and little interest, motivation or pleasure in life. Low energy, social isolation and lack of interest in relationships, and flat affect (the lack of emotion) are also negative symptoms.

Schizophrenia can also affect mood. Depression is a problem for many with schizophrenia who become depressed. Some individuals have mood swings. which may indicate a schizoaffective disorder

“Cognitive Symptoms”

Cognitive symptoms include difficulty with memory and concentration. It may be difficult to remember dates and appointments. Reading can also be a task. Persons with schizophrenia can have a hard time understanding what another is saying. They may also have and have slowed thinking and expression of their thoughts and ideas.

I know this must be very upsetting for you and your family. However let me reassure you that we have many very good medications that can help your brother. In the best responses cases all symptoms go away and their is no obvious indication of the illness as long as the person takes his medication.