Could I have Paranoia Schizophrenia?

In someone with a preexisting neurological condition, can schizophrenia-like symptoms (hearing voices; disorientation; paranoia; partial amnesia), be triggered very suddenly by stress?

• Answer:

  yes, many of schizophrenia's symptoms can be triggered by stress, though usually the stress must be prolonged. it also depends greatly on the severity of the preexisting neurological conditions. for example, someone with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is much more affected by things like stress than someone with borderline-OCD, though it is definitely possible for an individual suffering from OCD to succumb to schizophrenia.