Schizophrenia is a lifelong brain disorder in which individuals have trouble

distinguishing real and unreal experiences, concentrating, socializing and thinking logically. Overall it puts a person who suffers from this disorder

at a loss with reality.

About 1% of the American population Men around late teens and early 20’s Women around mid-20’s early 30’s Childhood on-sets usually begin at 5

years of age

• Constant struggle with day to day activities

• Inability to concentrate

• Has a tendency to get lost in their own thoughts

• Fear that the world is out to get them in some way or another

• Lack of ability to begin and sustain planned activities

• Difficulty keeping friends and work

• Suffers from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors

• Constant feeling of being tense

• Likes to stay isolated from others

• Bizarre behaviors

• Tendency to talk in a “garbled way”

• Suffers from “thought blocking” when conversation with others

• Talks to others with nonexistent words, making it hard on people to follow

• Speaking little, even when forced to interact

• Agitated body movements

• Repetition of certain movements continuously

• Depending on the type of Schizophrenic disorder some may enter a catatonic state

• Lack of emotions• Delusions • Hallucinations• Poor “executive functioning”• Trouble focusing and paying attention• Problems with “working memory” • Causes great emotional stress• Disorganized thinking • Trouble organizing or connecting his or her thoughts logically

1. Medication• antipsychotics• Clozapine

2. Hospitalization

3. Support programs & therapy • Social skills training • Job training• Relationship building classes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001925/

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schizophrenia.html

McGuire, Patrick A., New Hope for People with Schizophrenia, 4th Edition, Feb. 2000