one of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, known as flat affect, involves:

6,7ĭespite its relatively low prevalence, schizophrenia is associated with significant health, social, and economic concerns. Estimates of the international prevalence of schizophrenia among non-institutionalized persons is 0.33% to 0.75%.

Across studies that use household-based survey samples, clinical diagnostic interviews, and medical records, estimates of the prevalence of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders in the U.S.

A summary of currently available data is presented here. Given these complexities, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are often combined in prevalence estimation studies. Precise prevalence estimates of schizophrenia are difficult to obtain due to clinical and methodological factors such as the complexity of schizophrenia diagnosis, its overlap with other disorders, and varying methods for determining diagnoses. 1,2 More subtle changes in cognition and social relationships may precede the actual diagnosis, often by years. Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed in the late teens years to early thirties, and tends to emerge earlier in males (late adolescence – early twenties) than females (early twenties – early thirties). This perspective fuels the hope that early interventions will improve the course of schizophrenia which is often severely disabling when left untreated.Īdditional information can be found on the NIMH Health Topics page on Schizophrenia. This pattern may reflect disruptions in brain development as well as environmental factors such as prenatal or early life stress. Cognitive impairment and unusual behaviors sometimes appear in childhood, and persistent presence of multiple symptoms represent a later stage of the disorder. Although symptoms typically start in late adolescence or early adulthood, schizophrenia is often viewed from a developmental perspective.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder (unusual ways of thinking), as well as reduced expression of emotions, reduced motivation to accomplish goals, difficulty in social relationships, motor impairment, and cognitive impairment. Although the course of schizophrenia varies among individuals, schizophrenia is typically persistent and can be both severe and disabling. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. Research Training and Career Development Opportunities.Research Conducted at NIMH (Intramural Research Program).Upcoming Observances and Related Events.Contribute to Mental Health Research Mobile navigation

One of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, known as flat affect, involves: