Schizophrenia Disease Summary

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by symptoms of hallucinations, disorganized thinking, loss of goal-directed behaviors and deterioration in social role functioning.
Positive or psychotic symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, and distorted perceptions. While negative symptoms include flat or blunted emotions, lack of motivation or energy, lack of pleasure or interest in things, and limited speech.
Disorganized symptoms are confused thinking, disorganized speech and behavior. While cognitive symptoms include impairment in attention verbal fluency memory, and executive functioning.
Diagnosis should be based on DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.
The choice of pharmacological agent will be based on STEPS principle which means Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, Price, Simplicity. Should also consider side-effect profile, prior response history of patient or family member, patient preference and intended route of administration. 

For further information regarding the management of Schizophrenia, please refer to Disease Algorithm for the Treatment Guideline.