Hallucinations

Delusions

Disorganised thinking

Lack of motivation

Slow movement

Change in sleep patterns

Poor grooming or hygiene

Changes in body language and emotions

Loss of interest in social activities

Stress. Some people can develop the illness as a result of a stressful event, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a job.

Genetics. You are more likely to develop schizophrenia if you have a close relative who has lived with the illness.

Brain damage. This is usually damage that has stopped your brain from growing normally when your mother was pregnant, or during birth.

Drugs & Alc. Research has shown that stronger forms of cannabis increase your risk of developing schizophrenia.

A bad childhood. If you were deprived or abused as a child this can increase your risk of developing a mental illness. This includes schizophrenia.

Dysfunction of the immune system. For some people the dysfunction of the immune system could play a role in the development of schizophrenia.