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Learn more about schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition involving recurring or chronic episodes of psychosis, characterised by hallucinations (most commonly hearing voices that others cannot), delusions (fixed beliefs not supported by evidence), and disorganised thinking or behaviour. Recognised in the DSM-5, schizophrenia also involves negative symptoms: reduced emotional expression, diminished motivation, social withdrawal, and difficulty initiating activity. It typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood and follows a variable course, with some people experiencing discrete episodes and others managing ongoing symptoms. A common misconception is that schizophrenia involves a split or multiple personality; it does not. It is a disorder of reality perception, not of identity fragmentation. With appropriate and consistent treatment, many people achieve substantial recovery.
Schizophrenia involves two broad categories of symptoms, which vary in their presence and intensity between individuals.
Positive symptoms (experiences added to ordinary perception)
- Hearing, seeing, or sensing things that others do not perceive, most commonly voices (hallucinations)
- Holding beliefs that are false but feel real and do not shift with evidence (delusions)
- Disorganised or incoherent thinking, tangential speech, or difficulty following a thread of thought
- Unusual or unpredictable behaviour
Negative symptoms (experiences that are reduced or absent)
- Flat or reduced emotional expression
- Reduced motivation, difficulty initiating tasks, or loss of interest in daily life
- Social withdrawal and reduced speech
- Difficulty experiencing pleasure (anhedonia)
Schizophrenia is treated primarily through medication, with psychological support playing a central and complementary role in recovery, relapse prevention, and quality of life.
- Psychiatry Psychiatric management is the primary medical component of schizophrenia treatment, including the prescription and monitoring of antipsychotic medication, assessment of risk, and coordination of care.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) CBT adapted for psychosis (CBTp) helps people develop a different relationship with psychotic experiences, reducing their distress and improving daily functioning alongside medication.
- Family therapy Family therapy supports relatives and close carers in understanding the condition, improving communication, and reducing the household stress that can contribute to relapse.
- Clinical psychology Clinical psychologists assess cognitive and psychological functioning, contribute to formulation, and deliver tailored psychological interventions across the course of treatment.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Finding a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist with experience in schizophrenia requires a more specific search than a general therapist directory provides. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right practitioners for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a practitioner who specialises in schizophrenia, or browse the directory.
