See the signs

CrossCurrents

The Schizophrenia Society of Canada has compiled a list of early warning signs of psychosis that was developed by families affected by schizophrenia. Signs include:

• social withdrawal, isolation and suspiciousness
• deterioration of personal hygiene
• flat, expressionless gaze
• inability to cry or excessive crying
• inappropriate laughter
• excessive sleepiness or inability to sleep at night
• sudden shift in basic personality
• inability to concentrate or cope with minor problems
• unexpected hostility
• extreme religiousness or preoccupation with the occult
• excessive writing or printing without apparent meaning
• strange posturing
• peculiar use of words or language structure
• sensitivity or irritability when touched by others
• altered sense of smell and taste
• rigid stubbornness

Source: Learning about Schizophrenia: Rays of Hope. A Reference Manual for Families and Caregivers.

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