Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness. People with this illness have disturbed and disorganized thinking, language, and behavior. They may see, hear, or feel things that aren't really there. Sometimes the speech of a person with schizophrenia makes no sense. Schizophrenia usually causes serious problems in day-to-day living.
The term schizophrenia means "split mind." Those who have it seem to have normal mental function in some areas but are very disturbed in others. (For example, a person may talk in bizarre ways but be able to do math.) Schizophrenia is not the same as multiple personality disorder. People with schizophrenia do not have different personalities.
About 1% of people have schizophrenia in their lifetimes. It affects men and women equally.
There are many theories about the cause of schizophrenia. The genes a person inherits from his or her parents may be partly responsible. Stress can trigger episodes. Some scientists believe that something might happen before birth, such as a viral infection in the womb, that causes schizophrenia decades later.
Special scans, such as PET (positron-emission tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), have been used to look at the brains of people with this illness. These pictures show that some parts of the brain do not work normally in people with schizophrenia.
Lab studies have shown that nerve cells in some parts of the brains of schizophrenics may be abnormal. Another possible cause is that chemicals carrying signals between nerve cells may be out of balance.
Schizophrenia usually starts in the late teens or in the twenties. A few people have been diagnosed in childhood and some after age 40. Several million people in the United States are affected. It occurs slightly more often in men than in women.
Family problems or poor parenting does not cause schizophrenia. However, stress does appear to make things worse for people with this illness.
No single symptom defines this illness. People with this illness may have symptoms such as:
Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms. He or she will make sure that a medical problem or mind-altering drugs, such as LSD or cocaine, are not causing your symptoms.
There are several types of schizophrenia. The kinds of thoughts you have and the ways you act determine the type you have.
Medicines are the most important part of the treatment. There are many medicines that can make a big difference in your life. These medicines can cause some side effects, but you and your health care provider will watch for them and adjust the medicine if needed.
It is very important to take your medicine even when you are feeling and thinking well. Without the medicine, you are very likely to have a relapse. It will be up to you, your family, and your health care provider to decide if you can do without medicine.
This disorder changes the way you relate to others and the way you think about everyday activities. You will probably need a therapist or case manager to help you manage your daily needs. You may live in a group setting with others who also have this illness. You may need to spend some time in a hospital if you are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else. Support groups can be helpful for the family of someone with schizophrenia.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File BHV3356F.HTM Release 9.0/2006
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