The cause is unknown. This type of schizophrenia usually begins before age 25.
Symptoms
Active behavior, but in an aimless and not constructive way
Bizarre and inappropriate emotional responses (laughter)
Difficulty feeling pleasure
False, fixed beliefs (delusions)
Grimacing
Lack of motivation
Seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
Strange or silly behavior
Speech that makes no sense
Some of these symptoms are also seen in other types of schizophrenia. The main difference is that in disorganized schizophrenia, there is a lot of strange, aimless behavior and often speech that does not make sense.
References
Freudenreich O, Weiss AP, Goff DC. Psychosis and schizophrenia. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 28.
Review Date:
3/7/2012
Reviewed By:
Fred K. Berger, MD, Addiction and Forensic Psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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