Clinical Features: Categorized into positive (delusions, hallucinations), negative (apathy, anhedonia, asociality, avolition, affective flattening), and cognitive symptoms (attention, memory deficits).
Diagnosis (ICD-10): Minimum 1 very clear symptom from groups a-d (thought phenomena, passivity, voices, bizarre delusions) or 2+ from groups e-h (persistent hallucinations, thought disorder, catatonia, negative symptoms) for 1 month or more.
Prognosis: Indicators of poor prognosis include insidious onset, early onset, poor premorbid history, and prominent negative symptoms.
Clozapine: Superior efficacy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (failure of 2 drugs at 8 weeks). Requires strict FBC monitoring (weekly for 18 weeks) due to agranulocytosis risk.
Sri Lanka Context: Typical antipsychotics and specific atypicals (Risperidone, Olanzapine, Clozapine) are available in government hospitals.
Morbid Jealousy (Othello Syndrome): Characterized by delusional jealousy, high risk of violence, and association with alcohol/impotence.
Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorders: Acute onset (<2 weeks), polymorphic symptoms, recovery within 2-3 months.