OverviewSchizophrenia can include a wide range of possible symptoms.What is schizophrenia?Schizophrenia refers to both a single condition and a spectrum of conditions that fall under the category of psychotic disorders. These are conditions where a person experiences some form of “disconnection” from reality. Those disconnections can take several different forms. Show
What is the difference between schizophrenia and multiple personalities?While the name schizophrenia does come from the Greek words for “split” and “mind,” none of the conditions under schizophrenia involve multiple personalities. Instead, multiple personalities fall under a condition known as dissociative identity disorder (which was previously known as multiple personality disorder). That condition falls under the category of dissociative disorders. What is the difference between schizophrenia and psychosis?Schizophrenia and psychosis are two strongly connected terms, but they also have significant differences.
Who does it affect?Schizophrenia typically starts at different ages, depending on sex. It usually starts between ages 15 and 25 for men and between 25 and 35 for women. It also tends to affect men and women in equal numbers. Schizophrenia in children, especially before age 18, is possible but rare. However, these cases are usually very severe. Earlier onset tends to lead to a more severe, harder-to-treat condition. About 20% of new schizophrenia cases occur in people over age 45. These cases tend to happen more in women. Delusion symptoms are stronger in these cases, with less-severe negative symptoms and effects on the ability to think and focus. How common is this condition?Here are some statistics about how common schizophrenia is worldwide:
How does this condition affect my body?Schizophrenia is a condition that has severe effects on a person’s physical and mental well-being. This is because it disrupts how your brain works, interfering with your thinking ability, memory, how your senses work and more. Because your brain isn’t working correctly, having schizophrenia often causes you to struggle in many parts of your day-to-day life. Schizophrenia often disrupts your relationships (professional, social, romantic and otherwise). It can also cause you to have trouble organizing your thoughts, and you might behave in ways that put you at risk for injuries or other illnesses. Symptoms and CausesWhat conditions fall under the schizophrenia spectrum?According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (commonly known as the DSM-5), the disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum are:
What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?Schizophrenia usually happens in stages, with different symptoms and behaviors depending on the stage.
What are the early signs of schizophrenia?The early symptoms of schizophrenia, which happen in the onset (prodrome) stage, usually aren’t severe enough for a schizophrenia diagnosis but are still a cause for concern. This stage sometimes happens quickly, only taking weeks before moving to the next stage. The most common symptoms or changes in this stage include:
What are the active stage symptoms?The active stage is when the five main symptoms of schizophrenia are most likely to happen. Those symptoms can include a combination of the following:
Are there other possible symptoms?People with schizophrenia often experience the following:
Lack of insightPeople with schizophrenia commonly show signs of another condition, anosognosia. This condition, often described as “lack of insight,” means a person can’t recognize that they have a medical problem, disorder or illness. Experts estimate that between 50% and 90% of people with schizophrenia have anosognosia. This is one of the reasons that schizophrenia is so difficult to treat. More than just being in denial of having a problem, this means a person is incapable of recognizing that they have the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia. That often leads them to believe they don’t need medical care and treatment. Anosognosia can also indirectly fuel schizophrenic delusions, making a person believe that someone is trying to poison or harm them, when those people are actually trying to help. What causes schizophrenia and its spectrum of conditions?Schizophrenia and the related spectrum of conditions don’t have a single confirmed cause. Several factors and circumstances increase a person’s risk of developing it, but none of them is a guarantee that you’ll eventually have it. Experts suspect schizophrenia happens for different reasons. The three main reasons include:
Risk factorsWhile there aren’t any confirmed causes of schizophrenia, there are several factors and circumstances that researchers have connected to the condition.
Is it contagious?Schizophrenia isn’t contagious, so it can’t spread from person to person. Diagnosis and TestsHow is it diagnosed?Your (or your loved one’s) healthcare provider can diagnose schizophrenia or its related disorders based on a combination of questions they ask, the symptoms you describe or by observing your actions. They’ll also ask questions to rule out causes other than schizophrenia. They then compare what they find to the criteria required for a schizophrenia diagnosis. According to the DSM-5, a schizophrenia diagnosis requires the following:
What tests will be done to diagnose this condition?There aren’t any diagnostic tests for schizophrenia-spectrum conditions. But healthcare providers will likely run tests to rule out other conditions before diagnosing schizophrenia. The most likely types of tests include:
Management and TreatmentHow is it treated, and is there a cure?Schizophrenia isn’t curable, but it is often treatable. In a small percentage of cases, people can recover from schizophrenia entirely. However, this isn’t a cure because there isn’t a way of knowing who will have a relapse of this condition and who won’t. Because of that, experts consider those who recover from this condition “in remission.” Treating schizophrenia usually involves a combination of medication, therapy and self-management techniques. While therapy alone is often effective for treating most mental health conditions, managing schizophrenia usually requires medication. Early diagnosis and treatment are important because they increase the chances of a better outcome. What medications or treatments are used?Treating schizophrenia and related conditions typically involves multiple methods. Those methods can happen in combinations or steps. MedicationsThere are two main types of medications that treat schizophrenia.
There are other medications your healthcare provider might also prescribe to treat other symptoms that happen alongside or because of your schizophrenia symptoms. They might also prescribe medications to help reduce side effects of antipsychotic medications such as tremors. In general, your healthcare provider is the best person to talk to about the medications they might prescribe. They can give you more specific information related to your specific situation, including your life circumstances, medical history and personal preferences. PsychotherapyPsychotherapy methods like cognitive behavioral therapy can help people with schizophrenia cope with and manage their condition. Long-term therapy can also help with secondary problems alongside schizophrenia, such as anxiety, depression or substance use issues. Another key way therapy helps is with treatment adherence. As mentioned above, people with schizophrenia often don’t understand or recognize their symptoms, so they feel like they don’t need treatment. People with schizophrenia who continue therapy are more likely to follow treatment plans and guidance from their healthcare providers. Other therapy methods that might help include art therapy and drama therapy, which can aid with loss of motivation and a person’s ability to recognize their symptoms. Healthcare providers might also recommend techniques that focus on helping with social skills, setting up self-care routines and more. Electroconvulsive therapyIn cases where a person’s schizophrenia doesn’t improve after trying certain medications, and the person is at-risk for self-harm or harming others, healthcare providers might recommend adding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This treatment can bring rapid improvements when medication alone will take too long to have an effect. When other treatments don’t work, ECT is often the only one that will, and it can be lifesaving when people are at high risk of suicide. Despite this, ECT use isn’t common because it carries a heavy stigma and because TV, movies and other media are rarely accurate in showing how this treatment happens. This treatment involves using an electrical current applied to your scalp, stimulating certain parts of your brain. That stimulation causes a brief seizure, which can help improve brain function for people with severe depression, agitation and other problems. People who receive ECT receive anesthesia, so they’re asleep when this procedure happens and it isn’t painful. What are the possible complications and side effects of schizophrenia treatments?The possible complications and side effects from treatments for schizophrenia depend greatly on several factors. Those include the treatments you receive, your medical history, the severity of your case and more. Because the side effects can vary greatly from person to person, your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you about the possible side effects and what you can do about them. They can give you information that best fits your case, offer guidance on what to watch for and tell you how to manage those side effects. How can I take care of myself or manage my symptoms?Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition, and you should never try to self-diagnose or self-treat without first seeing a healthcare provider. (For more information about how to care for yourself after diagnosis, see the Living With section.) It’s also important to get treatment sooner rather than later because early diagnosis and treatment improve the odds of a positive outcome. How soon after treatment will I feel better?Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you how long it will take for medication and therapy to work, as different medications take different amounts of time before their effects are noticeable. They can also tell you about other treatment options that might help if the first attempt isn’t effective. PreventionHow can I reduce my risk or prevent this condition?Because experts still don’t know why schizophrenia happens, it’s impossible to prevent it or reduce your risk of it happening. Outlook / PrognosisWhat can I expect if I have this condition?Schizophrenia is a condition where the outlook varies greatly from person to person. People who have schizophrenia tend to struggle with work, relationships and self care. However, with treatment, some are able to work, care for themselves and have fulfilling relationships. This condition also often affects people in cycles. That means many people with this condition go through periods where the condition flares up and their symptoms get much worse, followed by a period where symptoms improve but they still have some ongoing struggles. Despite how serious this condition is, treatment does make it possible for people with schizophrenia to live with the condition and minimize how it affects their lives. How long does schizophrenia last?Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition. While some people will recover from this condition after having only one or two episodes, schizophrenia symptoms can return unpredictably. People with a history of schizophrenia are “in remission” as long as symptoms don’t return. What’s the outlook for this condition?Schizophrenia itself isn’t a deadly condition. However, its effects on a person can lead to dangerous or harmful behaviors, to both themselves and the people around them. About one-third of people with schizophrenia will have symptoms that worsen over time. That can happen because their symptoms won’t respond to treatment, or that person won’t follow treatment plans closely enough to manage their condition. About 10% of people with schizophrenia die by suicide. People with schizophrenia also have an increased risk of chronic health problems, especially heart disease. They often also struggle with problems that happen because of long-term substance use disorders. Many can’t care for themselves because of issues with employment or relationships, too, and many end up homeless. Approximately another one-third of people with schizophrenia will respond to treatment overall. However, they’ll still have periods where symptoms return and worsen. They might also have lingering problems, such as trouble focusing or thinking, because of earlier episodes of this condition. However, they’ll live normal — or mostly normal — lives overall. Of the remaining one-third of people with this condition, about 10% will go into remission and won’t have major symptoms from this condition for the rest of their lives. Another 20% or so will have an overall positive outcome, meaning they respond to treatment, their symptoms are manageable and they'll live their life without major impact from the condition. Living WithHow do I take care of myself?People with schizophrenia should do the following to help care for themselves and manage their condition:
When should I see my healthcare provider?You should see your healthcare provider as recommended. You should also see them if you notice a change in your symptoms, such as symptoms getting worse even if you’re taking your medication. You can also see them if side effects of your medication are causing disruptions in your life. Your healthcare provider can sometimes recommend alternative medications or treatments that might better treat your condition without causing those same effects. When should I go to ER?You should go to the ER or call 911 (or your local emergency services number) if you have thoughts about harming yourself, including thoughts of suicide, or about harming others. If you have thoughts like this, you can call any of the following:
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat can I do if a loved one shows signs of schizophrenia or a similar condition?Because people with schizophrenia often can’t recognize their symptoms or condition, they often don’t believe they need medical care or treatment. That can be frustrating or frightening for both the person with the symptoms and those who care about them. If you notice a loved one showing signs of schizophrenia or a related condition, you can try helping them by doing the following:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Schizophrenia can be a frightening condition for the people who have it and their loved ones. Despite stereotypes, this isn’t a condition where any thought of recovery or living a happy, fulfilling life is impossible. If you think you have symptoms of schizophrenia, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider as soon as you can. Their job is to help you, and healthcare providers — especially those who specialize in mental health conditions like schizophrenia — have the training to help you not feel judged, ashamed or embarrassed. If you notice a loved one struggling with symptoms of psychosis or schizophrenia, encourage them gently and supportively to get care. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in helping people recover and manage this condition. |