Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and

disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior. Traditionally, schizophrenia may involve

positive symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, formal thought disorders, and negative
symptoms, such as paucity of speech, anhedonia, and lack of motivation.
 Schizophrenia causes psychosis and is associated with considerable disability and
may affect all areas of life including personal, family, social, educational, and
occupational functioning.
 Stigma, discrimination, and violation of human rights of people with schizophrenia are
common.
 More than two out of three people with psychosis in the world do not receive
specialist mental health care.
 A range of effective care options for people with schizophrenia exist and at least one

Symptoms

 Schizophrenia is characterised by significant impairments in the way reality is

perceived and changes in behaviour related to:
 persistent delusions: the person has fixed beliefs that something is true, despite
evidence to the contrary;
 persistent hallucinations: the person may hear, smell, see, touch, or feel things that
are not there;
 experiences of influence, control or passivity: the experience that one’s feelings,
impulses, actions, or thoughts are not generated by oneself, are being placed in
one’s mind or withdrawn from one’s mind by others, or that one’s thoughts are being
broadcast to others;
 disorganized thinking, which is often observed as jumbled or irrelevant speech;
 highly disorganised behaviour e.g. the person does things that appear bizarre or
purposeless, or the person has unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses
that interfere with their ability to organise their behaviour;
 “negative symptoms” such as very limited speech, restricted experience and
expression of emotions, inability to experience interest or pleasure, and social
withdrawal; and/or
 extreme agitation or slowing of movements, maintenance of unusual postures.
 People with schizophrenia often also experience persistent difficulties with their
cognitive or thinking skills, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
 At least one third of people with schizophrenia experiences complete remission of
symptoms (1). Some people with schizophrenia experience worsening and remission
of symptoms periodically throughout their lives, others a gradual worsening of
symptoms over time.in three people with schizophrenia will be able to fully recover.

Other symptoms

The symptoms listed above can also affect a person’s:

 Motivation: The person may neglect everyday activities, including self-care. They
may also experience catatonia, during which they can barely talk or move.
 Emotional expression: The person may respond inappropriately or not at all on sad or
happy occasions.
  Social life: The person may withdraw socially, possibly through fear that somebody
will harm them.
 Communication: The person’s unusual thought and speech patterns can make it
difficult for them to communicate with others.

Many people with schizophrenia do not realize that they are unwell. Hallucinations and
delusions can seem very real to a person who is experiencing them. This can make it hard to
convince the individual to seek treatment or take medication. They may fear the side effects
or believe that medication will harm them.

Schizophrenia usually appears in a person’s late teens or older, but it can also affect
children.

Magnitude and impact

 Schizophrenia is frequently associated with significant distress and impairment in

personal, family, social, educational, occupational, and other important areas of life.
 People with schizophrenia are 2 to 3 times more likely to die early than the general
population (3). This is often due to physical illnesses, such as cardiovascular,
metabolic, and infectious diseases.
 People with schizophrenia often experience human rights violations both inside
mental health institutions and in community settings. Stigma against people with this
condition is intense and widespread, causing social exclusion, and impacting their
relationships with others, including family and friends. This contributes to
discrimination, which in turn can limit access to general health care, education,
housing, and employment.

Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia likely developsTrusted Source when specific genetic and environmental

factors combine.

For example, the following factors might all contribute to the development of schizophrenia:

Genetic inheritance

If there is no history of schizophrenia in a family, the chances of developing it are low.

However, a person’s risk rises if one of their parents has a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

A chemical imbalance in the brain

Schizophrenia appears to develop when there is an imbalance of the neurotransmitter

dopamine and possibly serotonin in the brain.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors that may increase the risk of schizophrenia include:

 trauma during birth

 malnutrition before birth
  viral infections
 psychosocial factors, such as trauma

Types

The classifications and types of schizophrenia have changed over the years. Previously,
health professionals may have classified schizophrenia as one of the following five types:

 paranoid type
 disorganized type
 catatonic type
 undifferentiated type
 residual type

However, doctors no longer classify types of schizophrenia. The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is the manual mental health professionals use to
diagnose mental health conditions. The current version, DSM-V, no longerTrusted Source
uses these categories. This is because health experts noted that the previous types had
many overlapping features and symptoms.

Management and support

A range of effective care options for people with schizophrenia exist, and these include
medication, psychoeducation, family interventions, cognitive-behavioural therapy and
psychosocial rehabilitation (e.g., life skills training). Facilitated assisted living, supported
housing and supported employment are essential care options that should be available for
people with schizophrenia. A recovery-oriented approach – giving people agency in
treatment decisions – is essential for people with schizophrenia and for their families and/or
caregivers as well.

Treatment

Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition, but effective treatmentTrusted Source can help a

person manage the symptoms, prevent relapses, and avoid hospitalization.

Each person’s experience will differ, and a doctor will tailor the treatment to suit the
individual.

Some potential treatment options include:

 Antipsychotic drugs. People can take these daily or less frequently if they opt for
injectable medications, which can last up to 3 months, depending on the medication.
 Counseling. Mental health counseling can help people develop coping skills and
pursue their life goals.
 Coordinated special care. This integrates medication, family involvement, and
education services in a holistic approach.

Some common medications for schizophrenia includeTrusted Source:

  risperidone (Risperdal)
 olanzapine (Zyprexa)
 quetiapine (Seroquel)
 ziprasidone (Geodon)
 clozapine (Clozaril)
 haloperidol (Haldol)

That said, many older drugs may have adverse effects, including neurological symptoms.
Newer medications typically have different side effects, such as weight gain.

It is essential for a person to continue with their treatment plan, even if the symptoms
improve. If a person stops taking medication, the symptoms may return.

Summary benefit from the support of their

family, friends, and community
 Schizophrenia is a long-term condition services.
that can profoundly affect a person’s  Anyone caring for someone with
ability to function. These effects can schizophrenia can help by learning
also affect the people around them. how to spot the onset of an episode,
 Treatment is available that can help a encouraging the person to adhere to
person manage their symptoms.
People with schizophrenia will also
 their treatment plan, and supporting Improved patients who are on treatment are
them through their experience. no more dangerous than the general
population.
Myth: People with schizophrenia have split
/several personalities. Myth: Schizophrenia is caused by bad
parenting, or abuse during childhood.
(or) Schizophrenia is the same as multiple
personality disorder. Fact: Schizophrenia is not caused by bad
parenting or abuse. The occurrence of
Fact: The term ‘multiple personality disorder’ schizophrenia is linked to the structure of the
refers to a condition in which people have brain, and other risk factors: genetic, physical,
different, well-defined temporary identities. A emotional and social. Adolescence is a period
person with multiple personality disorder may where some structural changes take place in
behave like different people at different the brain. One of the theories is that due to
points of time. some faulty disruption that happens in the
Schizophrenia is a disorder of brain in which brain during adolescence, the teenager may
the person has lost touch with reality, and has be more vulnerable to developing the illness if
symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and other risk factors are also present.
bizarre beliefs. A person with schizophrenia Myth: People with schizophrenia need to be
has only one personality. The ‘split’ refers to cared for in a hospital.
the fact that their thinking, feeling and
behaving may not be consistent / congruent Fact: Not all people with schizophrenia need
with one another (e.g., laughing while to be hospitalized. The family can care for the
recollecting a sad story).Myth: All persons person at home, by understanding the
with schizophrenia have the same illness. disorder and learning what kind of support
the person needs, while diligently following
Fact: Not all patients who have schizophrenia the advice of the mental health professionals.
experience the same type of illness. There are
different types of schizophrenia with different
types of symptoms, and different courses of
progress.

Myth: People with schizophrenia are

dangerous; they can be very aggressive and
harm themselves or the people around them.

Fact: Schizophrenia sometimes can cause a

person to behave in a violent manner, but not
all with schizophrenia are violent. It is only a
small minority of persons that are violent.
Even these people are not violent all the time;
they may become violent mostly when they
are very ill. After a proper diagnosis and
appropriate medication, a person with
schizophrenia is no more or less violent than a
person who does not have the disorder.