There are the positive symptoms and the negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are the symptoms that represent an excessive verison of normal functions. This includes the symptoms hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thought/ speech (Schizophrenia 19 and 20). Negative symptoms refers to reduced ability. These symptoms usually include being very emotionally flat. For example, speaking is disconnected/ dull. People with these symptoms are less likely to finish activities that they’ve started. Also, the victims will show little interest in life (NAMI …show more content…
There is no cure for Schizophrenia but it can be managed. Some forms of treatment are therapy and medications. People struggling with Schizophrenia take antipsychotic medications. This medication helps to control practically all of the positive symptoms. However, they have little effect for the negative symptoms. About sixty percent of people do respond positively to this form of medication (Schizophrenia 27). Schizophrenia medications can cause symptoms. Tardive Dyskinesia is the worst side effect of antipsychotic medications. This causes twitching in the face, and twitching of other parts of the body. The most common side effects are having a dry mouth, constipation, having blurry vision, and being tired. The serious side effects are muscle stiffness, having hand/ feet tremors, and to begin to have a white blood cell deficiency. A new type of antipsychotics is Atypical antipsychotics. This drug causes less side effects (Facts 16). Another type of treatment is psychotherapy. Taking therapy is most effective once all of the symptoms have become under control by the medications. Behavior therapy is helpful in showing the patient how to develop skills for daily life and to help them with social interactions (Schizophrenia