Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a disease of the brain, is one of the most disabling and emotionally devastating illnesses known to man. But because it has been misunderstood for so long, it has received relatively little attention and its victims have been undeservingly stigmatized. Schizophrenia is not a split personality, a rare and very different disorder. Like cancer and diabetes, schizophrenia has a biological basis; it is not caused by bad parenting or personal weakness.

Schizophrenia is, in fact, a relatively common disease, with an estimated one percent to one and a half percent of the U.S. population being diagnosed with it over the course of their lives. While there is no known cure for schizophrenia, it is a very treatable disease. Most of those afflicted by schizophrenia respond to drug therapy, and many are able to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Schizophrenia is a disorder that lasts for at least six months and includes at least one month of active-phase symptoms (i.e. two or more of the following: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, negative symptoms). Schizophrenia also includes the subtypes of Paranoid, Disorganized, Catatonic, Undifferentiated, and Residual.

Delusions are common among individuals with schizophrenia. An affected person may believe that he is being conspired against (called "paranoid delusion"). "Broadcasting" describes a type of delusion in which the individual with this illness believes that others can hear his thoughts. Hallucinations can be heard, seen, or even felt; most often they take the form of voices heard only by the afflicted person. Such voices may describe the person's actions, warn him of danger or tell him what to do. At times the individual may hear several voices carrying on a conversation. Less obvious than the "positive symptoms" but equally serious are the deficit or negative symptoms that represent the absence of normal behavior. These include flat or blunted affect (i.e., lack of emotional expression, apathy, and social withdrawal).

Schizoaffective Disorder is a disorder in which a mood episode and the active-phase symptoms of schizophrenia occur together and were preceded or are followed by at least two weeks of delusions or hallucinations without prominent mood symptoms. This individuals has the symptoms of schizophrenia coupled with either mania or depression, but not both. However, an individual can have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Please see the sections on Bipolar and Unipolar Disorders for more information about mania and depression.

Studies have shown that some persons with schizophrenia recover completely, and many others improve to the point where they can live independently, often with the maintenance of drug therapy. Fortunately, this accounts for the majority of cases. However, approximately 15 percent of people with schizophrenia respond only moderately to medication and require extensive support throughout their lives, while another 15 percent simply do not respond to existing treatment. New therapies may offer hope for the treatment of these most seriously affected sufferers.