There is no one characteristic for schizophrenia, but clients can experience symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations (usually auditory), incoherence, catatonic or hyperactive behavior, and flat effect. Schizophrenia is a disorder usually beginning when a person is in their late teens or early twenties.

The etiology of the condition is unknown, although there are a range of theoretical perspectives, and it is thought to involve neurotransmitter signal disruption. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders include schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, brief psychotic disorder, medication and substance-induced psychotic disorder, catatonia, and psychotic disorder due to…

schizophrenia — severe mental illness and disturbance involving a collection of cognitive, affective, and behavioral symptoms that negatively impact social, educational, or occupational…. etiology of the condition — unknown, although there are a range of theoretical perspectives, and it is thought to involve neurotransmitter signal disruption. hallucination — perception of sensory experiences without natural external stimuli, including auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory types. delusion — fixed false belief that cannot be changed in the mind of those who hold them despite evidence to the contrary.