PRODROMAL PHASE – Often not clear until after positive symptoms emerge:
- Something isn’t quite right
- Not definite
- Negative symptoms emerge (e.g. loss of motivation, decreased range of facial expression)
- Become more isolated
- Drop out of activities
- Less concern with personal appearance
- Unusual preoccupations such as religion, politics, or science fiction
ACUTE PHASE – Characterized by the experience of intense symptoms (e.g. hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder). Symptoms become obvious to others. These types of symptoms are often referred to as positive symptoms.
- Usually in this phase that treatment begins
- Early intervention leads to quicker recovery, better outcomes
RECOVERY PHASE – Gradual return to normal functioning
- Often difficult to come to terms with what has happened
- Sometimes a grief reaction follows due to the losses that occur as a result of the illness
- Confidence and self esteem may be affected
- Sometimes there is a loss of faith in one’s own judgment and perceptions
