Paranoid schizophrenia
First the schizophrenia was classified into catatonic, hebephrenic, and paranoid.
Now there are five subtypes of schizophrenia, based in fact on the symptoms of schizophrenia: catatonic type, disorganized type, paranoid type, residual type and undifferentiated type.
Paranoid schizophrenia seems to be the most common type of them. The symptoms are dominated by relatively stable, often paranoid, delusions, usually accompanied by hallucinations, particularly of the auditory variety, and perceptual disturbances. Disturbances tht affect volition, speech, and catatonic symptoms, are not present usually.
In this type of schizophrenia, the patient has feelings of being persecuted, watched, followed, he thinks that he has special missions to accomplish, hear hallucinatory voices that tell him what to do, in a word he lives in another world, a world that he thinks that is the real world..
Also can appear hallucinations of smell or taste, sexual sensations; visual hallucinations may occur but are rarely predominant.
Some signs of paranoid schizophrenia are confusion; indecision; nervousness; strange behavior; general withdrawal; indifference; anger; argumentative tendencies, changes in normal habits.
This type of schizophrenia can be well treated with regularly antipsychotic medication, the symptoms can disappear or diminish their intensity, but the symptoms can reappear if the treatment is interrupted.
Paranoid schizophrenia can appear episodic, with partial or complete remissions, or chronic. In chronic cases, the florid symptoms persist over years and it is difficult to distinguish discrete episodes. In this case family has an important mission and need to communicate with the doctor if something strange seems to be in the patient evolution, so the doctor can prescribe the right treatment.
Some patients might need hospitalization in special medical centers and special treatment and surveillance if they have repeated acute attacks. This patients can be dangerous for the community and for themselves. But, fortunately, these cases are uncommon .