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.
Some
Facts About Schizophrenia
n In the
United States, more than 2 million people have schizophrenia.
n Schizophrenia
costs the United States $32.5 billion annually.
n Worldwide,
rates of schizophrenia are about 1% of the population, very similar from
country to country.
n 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.
n 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.
n 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.
n Research
indicates that schizophrenia may be a developmental disorder resulting from
impaired migration of neurons in the brain during fetal development.
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 the National Institute of Mental Health (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 among 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, that may affect brain development and contribute to the development of schizophrenia.
Contact: The Alliance for the Mentally Ill NAMI of Greater Chicago 1536 West Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 Phone: 312-563-0445
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more information about Mental Illnesses
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