Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder characterized by the patient's inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. People with schizophrenia are likely to experience bizarre delusions as well as severe hallucinations. These symptoms often leave the patient fearful and socially withdrawn and may also result in disorganized speech and behavior. Treatment is effective in relieving some symptoms , although the majority of people with schizophrenia live with the condition the rest of their lives; it has been estimated that only about 1 in 5 patients ever achieve a full recovery.

A Common Misconception

The most common misconception regarding schizophrenia is that it is synonymous with having a "split personality." It is not. Patients who have more than one personality suffer from Dissociative Disorder, which is an entirely different form of mental illness from schizophrenia. Unfortunately, the use of the term "schizophrenic" to describe anything with conflicting or contradictory elements has become a common part of the modern cultural lexicon and continues to reinforce this misconception.

Schizophrenia FAQ

How common is schizophrenia?

It has been estimated that approximately 2 million Americans - 1% of the population - suffer from schizophrenia in any given year.

When does the onset of schizophrenia usually occur?

Although it varies from one person to another, the onset of schizophrenia usually occurs during adolescence and young adulthood in men (late teens to early twenties), whereas women are usually affected in their twenties and early thirties.

What are some specific symptoms of schizophrenia?

Distorted Views of Reality- Patients with schizophrenia are likely to have different perceptions of reality than the rest of the general public. Their views of reality are likely to be altered by the hallucinations and delusions that they experience on a regular basis. These perceptions generally manifest themselves in a patient's unusual behavior, such as becoming socially detached and withdrawn, or through constant movement and interaction.

Hallucinations- One of the most common and upsetting symptoms experienced by someone with schizophrenia are frequent and troubling sensory hallucinations. The most common of these are auditory---hearing voices that others cannot hear. These voices may hold conversations, or issue commands and threats to the patient. Illusions are another common form of hallucination and occur when the patient misinterprets an existing sensory stimulus.

Delusions- Delusions are strange and irrational beliefs experienced by the patient which are not connected to the reality of the world around them. Delusions can come in various forms. Paranoid delusions, such as the fear of persecution or harm by others, are common symptoms for approximately one-third of all people with schizophrenia. Delusions of grandeur, such as the patient's belief that he or she is a particularly important or famous celebrity, are also recurring symptoms for those with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia Links

schizophrenia.com

Schizophrenia information from the National Institutes of Health (NIMH)

National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)