Schizophrenia can develop later in life. Late-onset schizophrenia is diagnosed after age 45. People who have it are more likely to have symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. They're less likely to have negative symptoms, disorganized thoughts, impaired learning, or trouble understanding information.
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
In some people, schizophrenia appears suddenly and without warning. But for most, it comes on slowly, with subtle warning signs and a gradual decline in functioning, long before the first severe episode.
Although schizophrenia most commonly presents early in life, at least 20% of patients have onset after the age of 40 years. Some have proposed that schizophrenia with onset between the ages of 40 and 60 years is a distinct subtype of schizophrenia, late-onset schizophrenia (LOS)(1).
You could have: Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't there. Delusions: Mistaken but firmly held beliefs that are easy to prove wrong, like thinking you have superpowers, are a famous person, or people are out to get you. Disorganized speech: Using words and sentences that don't make sense to others.
Very late-onset schizophrenia appears for the first time after age 60. A 2018 study emphasizes the link between late-onset schizophrenia and other neurological disorders, such as dementia. People with late-onset schizophrenia are three times more likely to have dementia than their same-age peers.
Although some people with schizophrenia suffer anxiety, it is impossible for people with anxiety disorders to develop schizophrenia as a result of their anxiety disorder. Anxiety sufferers should be reassured that they cannot develop schizophrenia as part of their anxiety state, no matter how bad the anxiety becomes.
Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. The effect can be disabling. In most people with schizophrenia, symptoms generally start in the mid- to late 20s, though it can start later, up to the mid-30s.
Can stress cause schizophrenia? Stress isn't considered to be a direct cause of schizophrenia, but it could trigger an episode of psychosis in a person who's already vulnerable. 2016 research suggests that the condition can be caused by genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the decline in life expectancy among people with more severe mental illness ranges from 10–25 years . Most studies of schizophrenia show a life expectancy reduction of 10–20 years.
Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.
Bipolar disorder.
Some people with severe bipolar disorder have delusions or hallucinations. That's why they may be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
Symptoms of Borderline Schizophrenia
Level of functioning in work, interpersonal connection, or self-care is impaired by the symptoms for a significant portion of time. Change in functioning is significant compared to previous level of functioning. Continuous signs of the disturbance for a six-month period.
There's no single test for schizophrenia and the condition is usually diagnosed after assessment by a specialist in mental health. If you're concerned you may be developing symptoms of schizophrenia, see a GP as soon as possible. The earlier schizophrenia is treated, the better.
Functional deficits such as emotional flattening, social withdrawal, and a lack of motivation and pleasure are usually prominent. The most commonly reported psychotic features are auditory hallucinations and delusions.
Experts aren't sure what exactly triggers the first episode or the early warning signs. But many things can lead to psychosis: Genetics. Several specific genes and a family history of psychosis may make it more likely for you to develop it.
Depression doesn't cause schizophrenia. However, some people with severe clinical depression will experience symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking and speech.
Yes, some anxious people can have a psychotic episode from high degree anxiety or hyperstimulation, such as where they experience reality differently, as in hearing voices or seeing things that don't exist.
On average, men are diagnosed in their late teens to early 20s. Women tend to get diagnosed in their late 20s to early 30s. People rarely develop schizophrenia before they're 12 or after they're 40.
Although schizophrenia can occur at any age, the average age of onset tends to be in the late teens to the early 20s for men, and the late 20s to early 30s for women. It is uncommon for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40. It is possible to live well with schizophrenia.
It is possible to experience hallucinations while being aware that they aren't real. As with delusions, this would require a meta-awareness of the unreality of what appears to be a real experience.