Schizophrenia
Behavioral Definitions

• Bizarre content of thought (delusions of grandeur, persecution, reference, influence, control, somatic sensations, or infidelity)
• Abnormal speech patterns as evidenced by tangential replies, incoherence, perseveration, and moving quickly from subject to subject
• Perceptual disturbance [hallucinations (including auditory, visual, tactile, or olfactory)]
• Disorganized behavior, as evidenced by confusion, severe lack of goal direction, impulsiveness, or repetitive behaviors
• Paranoid thoughts and reactions, including extreme distrust, fear, and apprehension
• Psychomotor abnormalities such as marked decrease in reactivity to environment; catatonic patterns such as stupor, rigidity, excitement, posturing, or negativism; unusual mannerisms or grimacing
• Extreme agitation, including a high degree of irritability, anger, unpredictability, or impulsive physical acting out
• Bizarre dress or grooming
• Disturbed affect (blunted, none, flattened, or inappropriate)
• Relationship withdrawal (withdrawal from involvement with the external world and preoccupation with egocentric ideas and fantasies, feelings of alienation)

Print this page | Return to HomePage >