Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Approximately 1 percent of the worlds population develops some sort of schizophrenia during their lifetime. People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These symptoms may leave them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behavior can be so disorganized that they may be incomprehensible or frightening to others. Available treatments can relieve many symptoms, but most people with schizophrenia continue to suffer some symptoms throughout their lives.

What are the signs?

The first signs of schizophrenia often appear as confusing, or even shocking, changes in behavior. The sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms is referred to as an "acute" phase of schizophrenia. "Psychosis" a common condition in schizophrenia, is a state of mental impairment marked by hallucinations, which are disturbances of sensory perception, and/or delusions, which are false yet strongly held personal beliefs that result from an inability to separate real from unreal experiences. Less obvious symptoms, such as social isolation or withdrawal, or unusual speech, thinking, or behavior, may precede, be seen along with, or follow the psychotic symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

It is important to rule out other illnesses, as symptoms may be caused by undetected underlying medical conditions. A medical history should be taken and a physical examination and laboratory tests should be done to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms before concluding that a person has schizophrenia.

What is it like to be Schizophrenic?

Basically the world as you see it is very different when the veil of schizophrenia is put on. You start to see distortions within reality, hallucinations and illusions, you become delusional and thinking is distorted. What may make perfect sense to you may make absolutely no sense to anybody else and vice versa.

What causes it?

There is no single cause for the development of Schizophrenia but may result from an interplay of genetic, behavioral, and other factors.

How is it treated?

It can be treated with a wide variety of drugs, counseling and dietary changes.