Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior.

People with the disorder may hear voices that other people do not hear. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Symptoms of schizophrenia usually start between ages 16 and 30. Men often develop symptoms at a younger age than women. People usually do not get schizophrenia after age 45. Approximately 1% of people in America have schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, requiring lifelong treatment. Medicines, therapy, family education, rehabilitation, and skills training play a role in many therapy plans for schizophrenia. Many people with schizophrenia lead rewarding and meaningful lives in their communities.

The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but it likely involves a combination of genetics and environmental factors.

Problems with certain naturally occurring brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may also contribute to schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies show differences in the brain structure and central nervous system of people with schizophrenia.

Certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia, including:

• having a family history of schizophrenia
• exposure to viruses, toxins or malnutrition while in the womb, particularly in the first and second trimesters
• increased immune system activation, such as from inflammation or autoimmune diseases
• older age of the father
• taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs during teen years and young adulthood

Reach out to a doctor early for hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, or withdrawal from daily life, since early treatment improves outcomes. Call or text 988, or call 911, during a crisis or for thoughts of harming oneself or others.