Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic and disabling mental illness. It is a disease of the brain which affects thinking, mood, perception and behaviour. Although schizophrenia is treatable, relapses are common and the illness may never fully resolve.

It is a misconception that people who have schizophrenia are very dangerous - this is rarely the case. The lifetime risk of someone suffering from schizophrenia is about 1%, and most people first experience symptoms between the ages of 15 and 35 years.

Symptoms

People who suffer from schizophrenia may have a very broad range of symptoms which can cause great distress to themselves and their families. These symptoms can take many forms including:

• 'Positive symptoms' (abnormal experiences), such as hallucinations (seeing, hearing, feeling something that isn't actually there), delusions (false and usually strange beliefs) and paranoia (unrealistic fear).
• 'Negative symptoms' (absence of normal behaviour), such as emotional withdrawal, and lack of motivation and enjoyment.
• Cognitive dysfunction (problems with attention, memory and the ability to plan and carry out goal-directed activity).

The causes of schizophrenia are unknown but there are several theories. Schizophrenia may be partly hereditary and sufferers may have some parts of the brain that have either not developed normally or have deteriorated.

Treatment

The outlook for sufferers has improved greatly in the last few decades. Many people can be treated outside of the hospital and live within the community for most of their lives. When someone is first diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, they are usually treated in the hospital. Many people can then have treatment at home, particularly if they have a supportive family.

Antipsychotic medicines are available to treat the worst symptoms of the illness, such as hallucinations, but there is currently no "cure". In addition to medical treatment, support from family, friends and healthcare services are also a vital part of therapy.