Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behaviour or emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. Symptoms may include:

• Delusions. 
• Hallucinations. 
• Disorganized thinking (speech). 
• Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior. 
• Negative symptoms.  socially withdraw or lack the ability to experience pleasure.
• Suicidal Thoughts

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Did you know? 
Yes, schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that can cause symptoms such as delusions, but there’s more to it than that.
Experts aren’t totally sure what causes schizophrenia, but it’s thought to be a combination of factors such as genes and brain chemistry.
Men are more likely to develop schizophrenia than women
People with schizophrenia are not inherently violent or criminals, no matter what you’ve heard.
Schizophrenia is not the same thing as bipolar disorder or dis-associative Identity disorder.
People who have schizophrenia may be at a higher risk of other health issues, including premature death.
There’s no definitive diagnostic test for schizophrenia, so doctors will typically take a multi-pronged approach.
There’s not yet a cure for schizophrenia, but the available treatments make it possible to manage the condition.
Individuals with schizophrenia still face stigma surrounding their mental illness, and it’s on all of us not to add to it. 

Types of schizophrenia
In the past, there were different subtypes of schizophrenia, including:

• paranoid schizophrenia
• disorganized schizophrenia
• catatonic schizophrenia
• childhood schizophrenia​
• schizoaffective disorder

 
In 2013 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-V) changed the method of classification to bring all these categories under a single heading: schizophrenia.

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Causes of Schizophrenia
Although the precise cause of schizophrenia isn't known, certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia, including:

• Having a family history of schizophrenia
• Increased immune system activation, such as from inflammation or autoimmune diseases
• Older age of the father
• Some pregnancy and birth complications, such as malnutrition or exposure to toxins or viruses that may impact brain development
• Taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs during teen years and young adulthood

Treatments
Treatments for schizophrenia include:

• Antipyschotic medications
• Psychosocial treatments can help people with schizophrenia who are already stabilized on antipsychotic medications.
• Illness management skills (Learning to manage their own illness, how to watch for early warning signs of relapse, making a plan to respond & coping skills)
• Integrated treatment for co-occuring substance abuse. (When schizophrenia treatment and drug treatment programs are used together)
• Rehabilitation (Can include job counselling and training, money management training, how to use public transportation, and help to practice communication skills.)
• Family Education (When individuals are released into the care of their families, it is important that family members now as much as possible about the disease. Family members can learn coping strategies and problem solving skills, this way the family can make sure their loved ones keeps up with their treatment and medications.)
• Cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients with symptoms that do not go away when they take their medication.
• Self-help Groups