Question

Read the following case study and answer the question that follows:

Sundar, a college-going 20-year-old male, has moved from his hometown to live in a big city. He has continuous fear of insecurity and feels that enemy soldiers are following him. He gets very tense when he spots anyone in a uniform and feels that they are coming to catch him. This intense anxiety is interfering with his work and relationship, and his friends are extremely concerned as it does not make any sense to them. Sundar occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately, and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence, scanning off in the distance as though he sees or hears something. He expresses concern about the television and radio in the room potentially being monitored by the enemies. His beliefs are fixed and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Based on the symptoms being exhibited, identify the disorder. Explain the other symptoms that can be seen in this disorder.

Answer 1

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness in which victims have strange perceptions of reality. Schizophrenia can cause incapacitating hallucinations, delusions, and extremely irrational thinking and behaviour that can make it difficult to carry out daily tasks.

Indicators of schizophrenia include:

1. Delusions.
2. Hallucinations.
3. Disorganised thinking.
4. Negative symptoms.
5. Extremely disorganized.