Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder are mental health disorders that have a few commonalities, yet they have distinct differences.

It can be confusing for people to try and separate the two conditions, which is why we have prepared this article to help people differentiate between Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that causes a range of cognitive symptoms that make it difficult for people to distinguish reality, think rationally, and relate to others.

It can manifest in multiple ways, and treatment options and severity can fluctuate. Symptoms may be described as “positive” or “negative.” Positive symptoms involve unusual thoughts and perceptions and include hallucinations and delusions.

Negative symptoms involve social withdrawal, flat affect, and difficulty with task initiation or maintaining relationships.

Some common signs of schizophrenia are:.

Hallucinations and delusions
Disorganized speech and thinking
Unusual emotional responses and behavior
Social and occupational dysfunction

Schizophrenia typically develops between the ages of 16 and 30, and it can be long-standing and severe, affecting different aspects of one’s life.

What is Schizophrenic Disorder?

Schizophrenic Disorder is a broad, umbrella term that describes a range of mental illnesses, including Schizophrenia and other conditions with similar symptomatology.

Schizophrenic Disorder includes severe mood swings, including depression, anxiety, and agitation. It can also cause a range of cognitive symptoms and physical issues, such as sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, and more.

As such, Schizophrenic Disorder is not a diagnostic term, but rather a term used to provide a classification for severe mental illness.

People with Schizophrenic Disorder may experience symptoms of the following disorders:.

Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder
Delusional Disorder
Schizophreniform Disorder
Brief Psychotic Disorder

Differences between Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder

As previously mentioned, Schizophrenic Disorder is an umbrella term to describe various mental illnesses that share some similarities in terms of symptomatology.

Schizophrenia, on the other hand, is a specific mental illness characterized by particular symptoms.

The differences between the two can be described as follows:.

Schizophrenia is a specific illness, while Schizophrenic Disorder is an umbrella term for a wide range of mental illnesses with overlapping symptoms
Some Schizophrenic Disorder diagnoses may not involve hallucinations or delusions, which are hallmark symptoms of Schizophrenia. This means that not all patients diagnosed with Schizophrenic Disorder will exhibit the symptoms required for a diagnosis of Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of positive and negative symptoms, while other Schizophrenic Disorders may not exhibit both, or might present with other mood disorders in addition to psychotic symptoms

Similarities between Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder

While Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder can be vastly different in diagnosis and symptomatology, they share certain similarities.?.

These similarities include:.

Both conditions can cause severe dysfunction in social, occupational, and personal aspects of a person’s life
Both Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder can cause hallucinations, delusions, disordered thoughts, and speech
Both conditions can present with depressive and manic symptoms
Both conditions can benefit from a comprehensive treatment plan that includes medications, therapy, and lifestyle modifications

Treatment for Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder

Treatment for Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder varies depending on the individual’s diagnosis and symptom severity. In general, treatment for both conditions involve medication and therapy.

Medication for Schizophrenia may include antipsychotic medications, which can reduce hallucinations and delusions and alleviate other symptoms associated with the disorder.

Some individuals may require additional medication to manage mood symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.

Therapy for both Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling, and other forms of talk therapy.

These therapies aim to identify negative thought patterns and help individuals develop coping skills that can improve overall quality of life.

Lifestyle modifications such as exercise, stress reduction, and a healthy diet are also important aspects of treatment for individuals with Schizophrenia or Schizophrenic Disorder.

Conclusion

Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Disorder are terms used to describe a range of mental illnesses that share some similarities in regards to symptomatology. However, Schizophrenia is a specific illness characterized by specific symptoms.

On the other hand, Schizophrenic Disorder is an umbrella term that can encompass a range of mental illnesses, including Schizophrenia. Treatment for both conditions involves medication and therapy, as well as lifestyle modifications to help individuals in managing symptoms.