The sensory and physical abnormalities listed above are characteristically inherent in attorneys, politicians, mental health professionals, children under the age of five, and adults over the age of 70. It is inappropriate therefore, to diagnose people in any of these categories as suffering from schizophrenia. That is their natural state. Negative symptoms are the most insidious behavioral effects of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is equally represented in women and men.
Women tend to display more prominent mood symptoms and men more negative symptoms.
After the first episode, these distinctions begin to blur. PMS is not an indication of the onset of schizophrenia in women, although the symptoms are strikingly similar. This subtype of schizophrenia is marked by significant regression to primitive, uninhibited, and disorganized behavior. Thumb-sucking, howling like a wolf, temper tantrums, creation of pornographic art and unreasonably strong cravings to suckle a female s breast are characteristic of this type. This subtype features gross psychomotor disturbances, i.e., stupor, negativism, mutism, rigidity, excitement, prolonged erection, or posturing.