Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness with an early adulthood onset and persistent course. The illness affects all aspects of cognition, emotion, perception, and behavior in ways that impact the individual with the illness, his or her family, and society. Schizophrenia is a global disease, affecting 1 percent of the population worldwide.

Common symptoms include:

• Delusions - False but firm beliefs.
• Hallucinations - Hearing voices inaudible to others.
• Suspiciousness towards family members and other people.
• Violent & aggressive behavior.
• Disorganized speech.
• Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.
• Negative symptom i.e., affective flattening , decreased communication, withdrawn behavior.

Treatment of schizophrenia is fundamentally similar to the treatment of other chronic diseases. The lifelong presence of symptoms and deteriorating course requires maintenance as well as symptomatic treatment of exacerbations.