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The majority of people with Schizophrenia suffer from psychosis that may be episodic or continuous. The short definition for psychosis is a loss of reality testing. As a result of this loss of reality testing, people with Schizophrenia commonly suffer from auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations and/or delusions. Delusions are fixed false beliefs that are resistant to confrontation for example paranoid/persecutory delusions. The behavior of people with schizophrenia may appear very strange and difficult to understand or relate to. Other symptoms of Schizophrenia include disorganized (jumbled) speech and grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior. Social/Occupational dysfunction is seen in one or more of the following 3 areas: work, interpersonal relationships, and self-care.

Schizophrenia varies in severity from person to person. Some people have only one schizophrenic episode while others have many episodes during a lifetime but lead relatively normal lives between episodes.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective Disorder is an illness where the general idea is a combining of symptoms of Schizophrenia with those of either Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. There must have been a period of psychotic thought and behavior in the absence of manic or depressive symptoms for at least 2 weeks. Schizoaffective Disorder is thought to carry a worse prognosis than Schizophrenia.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing these symptoms you should consider a psychiatric evaluation through Dr. Westerback’s office by calling (805) 497-1618.