The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but most experts believe it is thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.¹

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that carries a notable ‘stigma’ and is often misunderstood.^1,2 People with schizophrenia experience disturbed thoughts, emotions and behaviour, and they find it difficult to judge reality.³ Symptoms can have a major impact on the life of the individual and their family.¹

Schizophrenia changes how a person behaves and thinks. Individuals often have episodes of schizophrenia where their symptoms can be particularly severe, followed by periods where they may experience few or no symptoms at all.³ Schizophrenia is often described by doctors as a type of psychosis – drastic changes in behaviour may occur and the individual can become anxious, confused, upset or sometimes suspicious of those around them.³

A first acute episode of psychosis can be difficult to manage both for the person who is ill and for their friends and family.³

Symptoms can be classified by what are known as positive symptoms and negative symptoms:

• Positive symptoms - The symptoms that occur during the episodes of psychosis are known as ‘positive symptoms’ and include thought disorder, delusions (false beliefs, often with paranoia), and hallucinations – mainly hearing voices.³

• Negative symptoms – These can often appear years before somebody experiences their first acute schizophrenic episode. These include lack of concentration, changes in sleeping patterns, becoming socially withdrawn, and losing interest and motivation in life and activities, including relationships and sex.³ Negative symptoms can often lead to relationship problems with family and friends as they can sometimes be mistaken for rudeness or laziness.³
  

It is estimated that 20 million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia.⁴ It typically starts between the late teens and mid-30s, but it can develop at any age. Schizophrenia can affect both men and women, although men tend to develop the condition slightly earlier in life.⁵

People with schizophrenia are 2-3 times more likely to die early than the general population, which is often due to comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease.⁶

There is no single test for schizophrenia and the condition is usually diagnosed by a specialist in mental health, using patient interviews to understand the symptoms, personal history and a diagnostic checklist.⁷

Schizophrenia requires treatment. With appropriate management, it’s possible to reduce the chance of severe relapses. Support to help recognise the ‘risk factors’ or ‘warning signs’ of a pending relapse can be helpful as well as talking to others about the condition.¹ A combination of support and treatment can help reduce the impact that schizophrenia has on daily life.¹ Although there may be times when symptoms return, many people recover from schizophrenia.¹