Is Schizophrenia One Illness? Or a collection of illnesses?

I have heard both of these ideas. The second one seems to make more sense, because even though there are certain criteria that must be met in order to diagnose schizophrenia, there is a wide range of symptoms. For myself, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but besides have the hallucinations and delusions and paranoia that go with it, i have symptoms of ADHD, OCD, Depression, and Tourette's. What is your opinion on this?

oooh, this is such an interesting question.

The American Psychiatric Association is reviewing all it's diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia and other illnesses. Schizophrenia in particular seems to be sort of "all over the place" as far as diagnosible symptoms. There are lots of subtypes of schizophrenia listed in the diagnostic manual psychiatrists use. Schizophrenia -- and other disorders -- are basically what the medical community *decides* they are, and the diagnosis is really just a description. So researchers can change their description (symptom criteria) of an illness based on new research or treatment applications, and they do change those descriptions all the time.

Was your diagnosis plain old schizophrenia along with those other separate diagnoses? Or was it schizo-affective disorder? My sister has that and the fact that you mention Depression makes me wonder if that isn't the more accurate diagnosis. Schizoaffective disorder is less clear cut.

Unfortunately, you can really have multiple mental illnesses.

Also, what I meant to say was that it almost doesn't matter what the diagnostic criteria are, bc the medical community itself is continuously exploring the question you pose, and what matters in the end is only getting effective treatment. yes, getting good treatment is easier when you have a good diagnosis, but with your set of illnesses it's pretty muddy.

Something that treats the psychosis as well as the mood symptoms would likely help you, and whatever is used to control OCD (antideprssants?) and Tourettes.

Have you seen a neurologist?

I have to add the disclaimer that I'm not medically trained in these illnesses. I am the close relative of the person who edits the American Journal of Psychiatry and I am also a mental health writer. But only a doctor can answer your question accurately and thoroughly. Best of luck with everything!

Schizophrenia is one illness. However, it's symptoms can easily be mistaken for other illnesses. A lot of people are misdiagnosed as being bipolar due to this. The difference between the two illnesses is--Schizophrenia gradually gets worse over a period of time whereas bipolar steadily tapers off. Hope this helps.

Intelligence and insanity come hand in hand.

Many experts believe schizophrenia is a group of illnesses. If you look at the paranoid subtype and the disorganized subtype, they are quit different in terms of onset, course, symptoms and prognosis. The paranoid type usually has a later onset, has hallucinations and delusions as the main symptoms and responds much better to antipsychotic drugs. The disorganized type usually develops earlier and more gradually, has incoherence, bizarre behavior and affective changes as the major symptoms and is much less responsive to antipsychotics. The brain is a complex organ. Hopefully in the near future they will be able to pinpoint the cause (s) of schizophrenia and will develop better treatments and possibly be able to prevent it.