Updated November 29, 2007.
Whether you’re experiencing thought or behavior symptoms, or you notice changes that worry you in a loved one, or are simply curious about the illness, basic knowledge about schizophrenia will help you get rid of common misconceptions about the illness. This site can help you learn more, and make an informed plan to move forward.
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe brain disorder that affects approximately 1% of both men and women worldwide, as it has throughout recorded history.
In men, the first symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin in adolescence or the early 20’s. Women generally experience a later onset, in their 20’s or 30’s. Schizophrenia is an episodic illness, which means that the intensity of symptoms will vary over time.
The brain is made up of millions of long cells called neurons, which are organized into brain regions. The neurons in some brain regions receive and process sensory information (sight, taste, etc). Other brain regions process emotions like fear. Still other brain regions are responsible for organizing and coordinating information from all the different parts of the brain.
Neurons connect all of these regions in a very complex network. Information is passed from neuron to neuron by sending chemical messages over the tiny gap between one neuron and the next. Those gaps are called synapses, and the chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters.
Most doctors and scientists believe that an imbalance in a neurotransmitter called dopamine is a central mechanism in the disease process of schizophrenia.
Dopamine is involved in the transmission of signals that enable thoughts and feelings. Some research suggests that people with schizophrenia have too much dopamine in certain brain regions. The drugs that work best to control the symptoms of schizophrenia appear to regulate the levels of dopamine in the brain.
Some people confuse schizophrenia with “split personality,” a popular term for multiple personality disorder (MPD), in which a person appears to have more than one distinct identity. Schizophrenia is completely unrelated to MPD. MPD does not respond to medication and is usually treated by talk therapy to re-integrate the separate personalities.
Schizophrenia, on the other hand, involves a breakdown of the normal integration of different functions of the brain. Schizophrenia responds well to medications that treat the underlying chemical imbalances. Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotic medications, combined with psychosocial therapies and social supports.
It can be difficult to diagnose schizophrenia, because there is no one, single symptom that is always present in schizophrenia and never present in another illness. However, there are some symptoms that strongly suggest a person may have schizophrenia, such as:
Research continues to look for a cure for schizophrenia, but until then most people with schizophrenia must take medications for the rest of their lives in order to control their symptoms.
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness, which means that it never goes away. However, there are many different forms the illness may take in someone’s life. Some people with schizophrenia have long periods in which their symptoms are under control and they function quite well. Some will have episodes of acute psychosis during which they become quite ill and need hospitalization. Some people experience fewer positive symptoms as they grow older but have persistent negative symptoms. Some people with schizophrenia never become well enough to live outside a hospital.
When people with schizophrenia speak, their sentences may seem fanciful or nonsensical, because the parts of their brain that organize thought and speech are being affected by the disease.
The hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia can be extremely frightening, and so people with schizophrenia are often distrustful and withdrawn. In addition, negative symptoms can make someone with schizophrenia seem apathetic or zoned out.
Most people with schizophrenia are not violent toward others. Substance abuse increases the incidence of violence in the mentally ill, just as it does in the general population. Also, people who have a history of violence are more likely to be violent in the future, whether they are mentally ill or not. If someone with paranoid schizophrenia does become violent, the violence is usually directed at family members.
The risk of suicide is greater than the risk of violence to others. Sadly, approximately 10% of people with schizophrenia commit suicide. Family and friends should always seek professional help when their loved one talks about suicide.
People with schizophrenia have poor insight into their condition. Because of this, they often stop taking their medication. Modern treatments are allowing people with schizophrenia to live fuller lives than at any time in history. It is extremely important for people to take their medication as prescribed, and work with their doctors to find the medications that work best for them.
Sources:
Morrison, J. (2006) DSM-IV Made Easy: the Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis. New York: The Guilford Press.
Schizophrenia: a detailed booklet that describes symptoms, causes, and treatments, with information on getting help and coping. (2006) National Institutes of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/summary.shtml
Torrey, E.F. (2006) Surviving Schizophrenia: a Manual for Families, Patients and Providers, 5th Edition. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Whether you’re experiencing thought or behavior symptoms, or you notice changes that worry you in a loved one, or are simply curious about the illness, basic knowledge about schizophrenia will help you get rid of common misconceptions about the illness. This site can help you learn more, and make an informed plan to move forward.
Schizophrenia is a Disease of the Brain
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe brain disorder that affects approximately 1% of both men and women worldwide, as it has throughout recorded history.
In men, the first symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin in adolescence or the early 20’s. Women generally experience a later onset, in their 20’s or 30’s. Schizophrenia is an episodic illness, which means that the intensity of symptoms will vary over time.
The brain is made up of millions of long cells called neurons, which are organized into brain regions. The neurons in some brain regions receive and process sensory information (sight, taste, etc). Other brain regions process emotions like fear. Still other brain regions are responsible for organizing and coordinating information from all the different parts of the brain.
Neurons connect all of these regions in a very complex network. Information is passed from neuron to neuron by sending chemical messages over the tiny gap between one neuron and the next. Those gaps are called synapses, and the chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters.
Most doctors and scientists believe that an imbalance in a neurotransmitter called dopamine is a central mechanism in the disease process of schizophrenia.
Dopamine is involved in the transmission of signals that enable thoughts and feelings. Some research suggests that people with schizophrenia have too much dopamine in certain brain regions. The drugs that work best to control the symptoms of schizophrenia appear to regulate the levels of dopamine in the brain.
Some people confuse schizophrenia with “split personality,” a popular term for multiple personality disorder (MPD), in which a person appears to have more than one distinct identity. Schizophrenia is completely unrelated to MPD. MPD does not respond to medication and is usually treated by talk therapy to re-integrate the separate personalities.
Schizophrenia, on the other hand, involves a breakdown of the normal integration of different functions of the brain. Schizophrenia responds well to medications that treat the underlying chemical imbalances. Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotic medications, combined with psychosocial therapies and social supports.
It can be difficult to diagnose schizophrenia, because there is no one, single symptom that is always present in schizophrenia and never present in another illness. However, there are some symptoms that strongly suggest a person may have schizophrenia, such as:
- Hearing voices that talk about the person, or talk to each other
- Feeling that people are reading or controlling one’s thoughts
- Feelings of being plotted against
Research continues to look for a cure for schizophrenia, but until then most people with schizophrenia must take medications for the rest of their lives in order to control their symptoms.
What’s It Like to Have Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness, which means that it never goes away. However, there are many different forms the illness may take in someone’s life. Some people with schizophrenia have long periods in which their symptoms are under control and they function quite well. Some will have episodes of acute psychosis during which they become quite ill and need hospitalization. Some people experience fewer positive symptoms as they grow older but have persistent negative symptoms. Some people with schizophrenia never become well enough to live outside a hospital.
When people with schizophrenia speak, their sentences may seem fanciful or nonsensical, because the parts of their brain that organize thought and speech are being affected by the disease.
The hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia can be extremely frightening, and so people with schizophrenia are often distrustful and withdrawn. In addition, negative symptoms can make someone with schizophrenia seem apathetic or zoned out.
Most people with schizophrenia are not violent toward others. Substance abuse increases the incidence of violence in the mentally ill, just as it does in the general population. Also, people who have a history of violence are more likely to be violent in the future, whether they are mentally ill or not. If someone with paranoid schizophrenia does become violent, the violence is usually directed at family members.
The risk of suicide is greater than the risk of violence to others. Sadly, approximately 10% of people with schizophrenia commit suicide. Family and friends should always seek professional help when their loved one talks about suicide.
People with schizophrenia have poor insight into their condition. Because of this, they often stop taking their medication. Modern treatments are allowing people with schizophrenia to live fuller lives than at any time in history. It is extremely important for people to take their medication as prescribed, and work with their doctors to find the medications that work best for them.
Sources:
Morrison, J. (2006) DSM-IV Made Easy: the Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis. New York: The Guilford Press.
Schizophrenia: a detailed booklet that describes symptoms, causes, and treatments, with information on getting help and coping. (2006) National Institutes of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/summary.shtml
Torrey, E.F. (2006) Surviving Schizophrenia: a Manual for Families, Patients and Providers, 5th Edition. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
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