Overall, it can take some time to reach a diagnosis.ДЄccording to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Black and Latinx people in the United States are more likely than others to receive an incorrect diagnosis of schizophrenia.

emotional flatness or a lack of pleasure in everyday lifeДЄ doctor can only diagnose schizophrenia if these signs cannot be explained by any other health issue, such as drug or alcohol abuse or a mood disorder.

highly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

Diagnostic criteriaДЇor a doctor to diagnose schizophrenia, a person needs to exhibit signs of the disorder continuously for at least 6 months. They may also request diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. If a person seeks help for symptoms that may indicate schizophrenia, a doctor will consider their personal and family medical histories and physical health, as well as the symptoms. Anyone with concerns about the link between schizophrenia and substance use should speak with a doctor.ДЇind out more about disorganized thinking, a symptom of schizophrenia. Various substances can also interfere with treatment. Some recreational drugs that affect the mental processes, such as amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, and LSD, may trigger psychosis or schizophrenia in people with a susceptibility.Д®xperts say that the use of drugs is more common among people with schizophrenia, but it is not clear whether the drugs trigger the disorder, or whether having schizophrenia increases the likelihood of using drugs to cope with symptoms. However, drawing conclusions about this will require more research. One study suggests that people with schizophrenia and paranoia may have social cognitive impairments that make it harder for them, for example, to recognize peopleвЂ™s emotions or trust others. Medical: These may include poor nutrition before birth and some viruses.Д«iological: Features of the brainвЂ™s structure or the activity of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, may contribute.Д®nvironmental: Stress, past trauma, and abuse may trigger symptoms in people already at risk. Genetic: Those with a family history may have a higher risk. The exact causes are unclear, but they likely involve a combination of genetic factors and environmental triggers. Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder. If a person experiences any of the above, they should receive immediate medical care.

feeling as if their thoughts are disappearing or being taken away from them.

feeling as if someone else is controlling their thoughts and actions.

fearing that someone is following, chasing, poisoning, or otherwise plotting against them.

believing that someone is persecuting them.

feeling upset, anxious, angry, and confused.

People with paranoia may experience a combination of the following: A person may believe that someone is planning to harm them, for example.

withdrawing from family, friends, and activitiesДЄ delusion is something that a person believes to be true, even when strong evidence suggests that it is false.

Symptoms often emerge when a person is in their late teens to early 30s.

Schizophrenia is a lifelong mental health condition.

Signs of paranoid schizophrenia