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Schizophrenia
When Someone Has Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness-the most chronic and
disabling of the severe mental disorders. The first signs of schizophrenia,
which typically emerge in young people in their teens or twenties, are
confusing and often shocking to families and friends. Hallucinations,
delusions, disordered thinking; unusual speech or behavior and social
withdrawal impair the ability to interact with others. Most people with
schizophrenia suffer chronically or episodically throughout their lives,
losing opportunities for careers and relationships. They are stigmatized by
lack of public understanding about the disease. While newer treatments with
fewer side effects have improved the lives of many people with schizophrenia,
only one in five recovers. One in
10 commits suicide.
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Some Facts About
Schizophrenia
·
In the United States, more than 2 million people have
schizophrenia.
·
Schizophrenia costs the United States $32.5 billion
annually.
·
Worldwide, rates of schizophrenia are about 1% of the
population, very similar from country to country.
·
People with schizophrenia are far more likely to be victims
of violence and crime than to commit violent acts themselves.
·
People with schizophrenia have an increased risk of violent
behavior only when untreated or when engaging in substance abuse.
·
Many years of family studies indicate that vulnerability to
schizophrenia is inherited. However, among individuals with schizophrenia who
have an identical twin, and thus share the exact genetic makeup, there is only
a 50 percent chance that both twins will be affected with the disease.
Scientists conclude that some environmental influence, perhaps occurring
during fetal development, accounts for the difference.
·
Advances in neuroimaging technology have shown that some
people with schizophrenia have abnormalities in brain structure consisting of
enlarged ventricles, fluid-filled cavities deep within the brain.
·
Research indicates that schizophrenia may be a developmental
disorder resulting from impaired migration of neurons in the brain during
fetal development.
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Treatments for
Schizophrenia
A number of new, effective medications for schizophrenia with fewer side
effects than older medications have been introduced in the past decade. The
newer drugs are very effective in the treatment of psychosis, including
hallucinations and delusions, and may also be helpful for treating reduced
motivation or blunted emotional expression.
Because of the nature of the disorder, some people with
schizophrenia may deny that they need medications and may either refuse to
take them or stop taking them because of undesired side effects. Remembering
to take medications may be difficult because of the disorganized thinking
characteristic of people with schizophrenia. A major goal of research at NIMH
is the discovery of new, effective and safe treatments that can be given in
longer-acting doses.
Present and Future Research Directions
In addition to the development of new treatments, NIMH research is
focusing on the relationships between genetic, behavioral, developmental,
social and other factors to identify the cause or causes of schizophrenia.
Utilizing increasingly precise imaging techniques, scientists are studying the
structure and function of the living brain. New molecular tools and modern
statistical analyses are enabling researchers to close in on the particular
genes that affect brain development or brain circuitry involved in
schizophrenia. Scientists are continuing to investigate possible prenatal
factors, including infections, which may affect brain development and
contribute to the development of schizophrenia.
This information is available courtesy of the
NIMH. It is in the public domain
and can be downloaded, reproduced, or copied without permission. For more
information go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/practitioners/patinfo.cfm
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Resources
Information,
support, and advocacy organizations:
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
200
North Glebe Road, Suite 1015
Arlington, VA 22203-3754
Phone: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or (703) 524-7600
Internet: http://www.nami.org
National
Mental Health Association (NMHA)
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
Phone: 1-800-969-6942 or (703) 684-7722
Internet: http://www.nmha.org
National
Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 1-800-553-4key (4539) or (215) 751-1810
Internet: http://www.mhselfhelp.org/index2.html
National
Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)
60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 404
Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: (516) 829-0091
Internet: http://www.mhsource.com
Information
on research into the brain, behavior, and mental disorders contact:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Office of Communication and Public Liaison
Information Resources and Inquiries Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard, Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Phone:
301-443-4513
This
information is available courtesy of the NIMH.
It is in the public domain and can be downloaded, reproduced, or copied
without permission. For more information go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/practitioners/patinfo.cfm
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