A member asked:

Could anxiety becomes schizophrenia?

5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Pamela Pappas answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Generally, no: Anxiety disorders are very different from schizophrenia, but people with schizophrenia may experience anxiety as well. Theirs is more psychotic (loss of contact w/external reality) and often paranoid in nature. Antipsychotic medications can help with that. Generalized anxiety d/o, panic d/o, phobias do not lose contact w/reality like schizophrenia does. Anxiety does not "become" schizophrenia.

Answered 8/3/2015

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Dr. Andrew Ho answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Anxiety in prodrome: Anxiety is a common symptom in patients who eventually develop schizophrenia. Before someone manifests sufficient number of schizophrenia symptoms, they often suffer first from anxiety. So, it is true that the vast majority of people who have anxiety never develop schizophrenia. However, it is also true that for many patients, they suffer anxiety first then become diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Answered 10/3/2016

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