Understanding Schizophrenia: Causes and Symptoms

8. Cognitive Impairments

When a person has schizophrenia, they have difficulty thinking clearly. Many mental health professionals consider cognitive impairment a core feature of the disease. Functions that depend on working memory, such as remembering a phone number, generating a strategy for problem-solving, or planning an outing are difficult for those with schizophrenia.

Additionally, a person with schizophrenia lacks the capacity for long-term memory and struggles to retain new information. Schizophrenia reduces mental speed and reaction time as well, which interferes with athletic performance and creative pursuits.