Schizophrenia
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness which affects about one person in 100 in Australia.
Although some people will experience only one or 2 brief episodes during their life, for others it is a lifelong problem.
The illness usually first appears in the teens and early adult years. It may develop suddenly, over a few days or weeks, or may take many months or longer to become obvious.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects people in a number of different ways, but some features are present in almost all cases.
Here are some of the symptoms of schizophrenia.
- Delusions (false beliefs): These often take the form of persecution — believing others are plotting against, or trying to harm, the affected person. There may be delusions of grandeur — thinking oneself as having special powers or importance. These delusions, especially the persecution beliefs, may cause the affected person to withdraw and literally hide from other people.
- Hallucinations (false sensations): Usually these take the form of hearing voices which don't exist. Sometimes the affected person may believe they have seen, tasted, smelt or felt things that don't exist.
- Confused thinking: This can result in speech which is difficult to follow, suddenly changing the subject for no obvious reason and a generally ‘jumbled’ way of communicating.
Common features of schizophrenia
Other common features of schizophrenia include a ‘flat’, non-emotional, withdrawn personality. Often there is a loss of drive and enthusiasm for everyday tasks. This may be mistaken for laziness, but is part of the illness.
Misconceptions
Many people think of those with schizophrenia as having ‘dual’ or ‘split’ personalities. This is not correct and has probably resulted from the way unaffected people interpret the disordered thoughts and delusions of those with the illness.
What causes schizophrenia?
No one knows what causes schizophrenia. It is more common in those whose parents have it and it is believed that there may be an inherited tendency towards certain changes in brain chemistry which occur in those affected.
Treatment of schizophrenia
For many years there was no treatment for schizophrenia. This meant that many people with the illness were kept in hospitals for most of their lives. Modern medications, which are believed to correct brain chemistry, have changed all that. Most people with schizophrenia now live in the general community and lead relatively normal lives.
Last Reviewed: 10 December 2007
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