Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that causes people to interpret reality differently, such as hallucinations, disordered thoughts, and delusions that could negatively impact a person’s daily life.
Symptoms and Signs
Feelings of “losing touch” with reality
Hallucinations and delusions
Movement and thought disorders
Reduced happy emotions and expressions of emotions
Difficulty starting activities
Reduced speaking
Difficulty grasping information and focusing
Memory problems
Facts and Statistics
Schizophrenia can affect anyone at any age, but most cases develop between adolescence and age 30.
Immigrant/lower socioeconomic populations have a greater chance of being diagnosed with the disorder than the general population.
Approximately 3.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with schizophrenia.
40% of people with the illness are untreated in any given year.
It is commonly thought and portrayed that people with schizophrenia tend to be more violent. However, they are actually more likely to be victims of violence rather than people who cause it.
Treatments
Antipsychotics taken in pill/liquid form
Psychosocial Treatment (after #1)
Coordinated Specialty Care(CSC): integrates #1, #2, case management, family involvement, and supported education and employment services.
