Catatonic type schizophrenia
Patients with this subtype of
Schizophrenia may exhibit extremes of behavior including
catatonia. Some may allow their posture to be rearranged, holding
the new position (catalepsy or waxy flexibility). Others may
imitate sounds (echolalia) or movements (echopraxia) of others. At
times, some patients may explode into an excited, activated state
marked by purposeless ad repetitive movements. The catatonic type
is rare today, and probably reflected an advanced stage of
schizophrenia before the advent of modern treatment methods.
Disorganized type schizophrenia
A form of schizophrenia that is characterized by a disorganized
behavior and disorganized speech. Their affect may be flat or
inappropriate. This type involves a disturbance in behavior,
communication, and thought. Usually these patients show a variety
of eccentric characteristics such as unusual clothing or peculiar
gestures.
Paranoid type schizophrenia
Delusions and auditory hallucinations predominate in patients
with this subtype of schizophrenia while their affective and
cognitive functioning remains relatively intact. This type of
patient often has highly elaborate delusions of persecution or
personal grandeur. However, the patient may appear rather normal
until he or she becomes entangled in typical argumentativeness and
suspiciousness.
Residual type schizophrenia
A form of schizophrenia that is characterized by a previous
diagnosis of schizophrenia, but no longer having any of the
prominent psychotic symptoms. There are some remaining symptoms of
the disorder however, such as eccentric behavior, emotional
blunting, illogical thinking, or social withdrawal.
In the residual type of schizophrenia, the patient has had at
least one episode of schizophrenia. If delusions or hallucinations
are present, they are not prominent, and are not accompanied by
strong affect.
Undifferentiated type schizophrenia
This subtype of schizophrenia applies to patients who fail to
meet the criteria for the other subtypes but clearly suffer from
this mental disorder.
The patient suffers from pronounced
psychotic symptoms, which
may not fit in any other specific category or more than one.
