Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between what is real and not real. It also makes it difficult for an individual to think clearly. Symptoms begin typically in young adulthood, and about 0.3–0.7% of people are affected during their lifetime.

Signs & Symptoms

Schizophrenia symptoms generally develop slowly over months or years. Other symptoms include:

• Irritable or tense feeling
• Trouble concentrating
• Bizarre behaviors
• Isolation
• Lack of emotion
• Hearing or seeing things that are not there

Causes

A combination of genetic and environmental factors plays a major role in the development of schizophrenia.

• Certain events may trigger schizophrenia in people who are at risk for it because of their gene
• You are more likely to develop schizophrenia if you have a family member with the disease

Treatment

Antipsychotic medicines are known to be the best available treatment for schizophrenia as they change the balance of chemicals in the brain and help control symptoms. As schizophrenia is a life-long illness, most people with this condition need to stay on antipsychotic medication for life.

Supportive therapy may be helpful for many people with schizophrenia.