Schizophrenia - NIMH

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch ... Skiptomaincontent Mainnavigation MentalHealthInformation GetInvolved Research Funding News&Events AboutUs HealthTopics NIMHoffersexpert-reviewedinformationonmentaldisordersandarangeoftopics. Statistics NIMHstatisticspagesincludestatisticsontheprevalence,treatment,andcostsofmentalillnessforthepopulationoftheUnitedStates. BrochuresandFactSheets Download,read,andorderfreeNIMHbrochuresandfactsheetsaboutmentaldisordersandrelatedtopics. HelpforMentalIllnesses Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowhasamentalillness,therearewaystogethelp.Usetheseresourcestofindhelpforyourself,afriend,orafamilymember. ClinicalTrials Ifyouorafriendorfamilymemberarethinkingabouttakingpartinclinicalresearch,thispagecontainsbasicinformationaboutclinicaltrials. 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QuickLinks ContributetoMentalHealthResearch Mobilenavigation MentalHealthInformation MentalHealthInformationHome HealthTopics Statistics BrochuresandFactSheets HelpforMentalIllnesses ClinicalTrials GetInvolved GetInvolvedHome StakeholderEngagement ConnectwithNIMH DigitalShareables ScienceEducation UpcomingObservancesandRelatedEvents Research ResearchHome ResearchFundedbyNIMH ResearchConductedatNIMH(IntramuralResearchProgram) Funding FundingHome Opportunities&Announcements StrategyforResearchGrants GrantWriting&ApprovalProcess ManagingGrants ClinicalResearch ResearchTrainingandCareerDevelopmentOpportunities SmallBusinessResearch News&Events News&EventsHome ScienceNews ResearchHighlights MeetingsandEvents Multimedia SocialMedia PressResources EmailUpdates InnovationSpeakerSeries AboutUs AboutUsHome AbouttheDirector AdvisoryBoardsandGroups StrategicPlan OfficesandDivisions Budget CareersatNIMH StaffDirectories GettingtoNIMH HealthTopics Statistics BrochuresandFactSheets HelpforMentalIllnesses ClinicalTrials Home > MentalHealthInformation > HealthTopics SharePage         Menu Overview OnsetandSymptoms RiskFactors TreatmentsandTherapies FindingHelp JoinaStudy LearnMore Schizophrenia Overview Schizophreniaisaseriousmentalillnessthataffectshowapersonthinks,feels,andbehaves.Peoplewithschizophreniamayseemliketheyhavelosttouchwithreality,whichcanbedistressingforthemandfortheirfamilyandfriends.Thesymptomsofschizophreniacanmakeitdifficulttoparticipateinusual,everydayactivities,buteffectivetreatmentsareavailable.Manypeoplewhoreceivetreatmentcanengageinschoolorwork,achieveindependence,andenjoypersonalrelationships. OnsetandSymptoms TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)hasrecognizedthathavingcertainmentaldisorders,includingdepressionandschizophrenia,canmakepeoplemorelikelytogetseverelyillfromCOVID-19.LearnmoreaboutgettinghelpandfindingahealthcareprovideronNIMH'sHelpforMentalIllnesseswebpage. It’simportanttorecognizethesymptomsofschizophreniaandseekhelpasearlyaspossible.Peoplewithschizophreniaareusuallydiagnosedbetweentheagesof16and30,afterthefirstepisodeofpsychosis.Startingtreatmentassoonaspossiblefollowingthefirstepisodeofpsychosisisanimportantsteptowardrecovery.However,researchshowsthatgradualchangesinthinking,mood,andsocialfunctioningoftenappearbeforethefirstepisodeofpsychosis.Schizophreniaisrareinyoungerchildren. Schizophreniasymptomscandifferfrompersontoperson,buttheygenerallyfallintothreemaincategories:psychotic,negative,andcognitive. Psychoticsymptomsincludechangesinthewayapersonthinks,acts,andexperiencestheworld.Peoplewithpsychoticsymptomsmayloseasharedsenseofrealitywithothersandexperiencetheworldinadistortedway.Forsomepeople,thesesymptomscomeandgo.Forothers,thesymptomsbecomestableovertime.Psychoticsymptomsinclude: Hallucinations:Whenapersonsees,hears,smells,tastes,orfeelsthingsthatarenotactuallythere.Hearingvoicesiscommonforpeoplewithschizophrenia.Peoplewhohearvoicesmayhearthemforalongtimebeforefamilyorfriendsnoticeaproblem. Delusions:Whenapersonhasstrongbeliefsthatarenottrueandmayseemirrationaltoothers.Forexample,individualsexperiencingdelusionsmaybelievethatpeopleontheradioandtelevisionaresendingspecialmessagesthatrequireacertainresponse,ortheymaybelievethattheyareindangerorthatothersaretryingtohurtthem. Thoughtdisorder:Whenapersonhaswaysofthinkingthatareunusualorillogical.Peoplewiththoughtdisordermayhavetroubleorganizingtheirthoughtsandspeech.Sometimesapersonwillstoptalkinginthemiddleofathought,jumpfromtopictotopic,ormakeupwordsthathavenomeaning. Movementdisorder:Whenapersonexhibitsabnormalbodymovements.Peoplewithmovementdisordermayrepeatcertainmotionsoverandover. Negativesymptomsincludelossofmotivation,lossofinterestorenjoymentindailyactivities,withdrawalfromsociallife,difficultyshowingemotions,anddifficultyfunctioningnormally.Negativesymptomsinclude: Havingtroubleplanningandstickingwithactivities,suchasgroceryshopping Havingtroubleanticipatingandfeelingpleasureineverydaylife Talkinginadullvoiceandshowinglimitedfacialexpression Avoidingsocialinteractionorinteractinginsociallyawkwardways Havingverylowenergyandspendingalotoftimeinpassiveactivities.Inextremecases,apersonmightstopmovingortalkingforawhile,whichisarareconditioncalledcatatonia. Thesesymptomsaresometimesmistakenforsymptomsofdepressionorothermentalillnesses. Cognitivesymptomsincludeproblemsinattention,concentration,andmemory.Thesesymptomscanmakeithardtofollowaconversation,learnnewthings,orrememberappointments.Aperson’slevelofcognitivefunctioningisoneofthebestpredictorsoftheirday-to-dayfunctioning.Cognitivefunctioningisevaluatedusingspecifictests.Cognitivesymptomsinclude: Havingtroubleprocessinginformationtomakedecisions Havingtroubleusinginformationimmediatelyafterlearningit Havingtroublefocusingorpayingattention RiskofViolence Mostpeoplewithschizophreniaarenotviolent.Overall,peoplewithschizophreniaaremorelikelythanthosewithouttheillnesstobeharmedbyothers.Forpeoplewithschizophrenia,theriskofself-harmandofviolencetoothersisgreatestwhentheillnessisuntreated.Itisimportanttohelppeoplewhoareshowingsymptomstogettreatmentasquicklyaspossible. Schizophreniavs.DissociativeIdentityDisorder Althoughsomeofthesignsmayseemsimilaronthesurface,schizophreniaisnotdissociativeidentitydisorder(whichusedtobecalledmultiplepersonalitydisorderorsplitpersonality).Peoplewithdissociativeidentitydisorderhavetwoormoredistinctidentitiesthatarepresentandthatalternatelytakecontrolofthem. RiskFactors Severalfactorsmaycontributetoaperson’sriskofdevelopingschizophrenia,including: Genetics:Schizophreniasometimesrunsinfamilies.However,justbecauseonefamilymemberhasschizophrenia,itdoesnotmeanthatothermembersofthefamilyalsowillhaveit.Studiessuggestthatmanydifferentgenesmayincreaseaperson’schancesofdevelopingschizophrenia,butthatnosinglegenecausesthedisorderbyitself. Environment:Researchsuggeststhatacombinationofgeneticfactorsandaspectsofaperson’senvironmentandlifeexperiencesmayplayaroleinthedevelopmentofschizophrenia.Theseenvironmentalfactorsthatmayincludelivinginpoverty,stressfulordangeroussurroundings,andexposuretovirusesornutritionalproblemsbeforebirth. Brainstructureandfunction:Researchshowsthatpeoplewithschizophreniamaybemorelikelytohavedifferencesinthesizeofcertainbrainareasandinconnectionsbetweenbrainareas.Someofthesebraindifferencesmaydevelopbeforebirth.Researchersareworkingtobetterunderstandhowbrainstructureandfunctionmayrelatetoschizophrenia. TreatmentsandTherapies Currenttreatmentsforschizophreniafocusonhelpingindividualsmanagetheirsymptoms,improveday-to-dayfunctioning,andachievepersonallifegoals,suchascompletingeducation,pursuingacareer,andhavingfulfillingrelationships. AntipsychoticMedications Antipsychoticmedicationscanhelpmakepsychoticsymptomslessintenseandlessfrequent.Thesemedicationsareusuallytakeneverydayinapillorliquidforms.Someantipsychoticmedicationsaregivenasinjectionsonceortwiceamonth. Ifaperson’ssymptomsdonotimprovewithusualantipsychoticmedications,theymaybeprescribedclozapine.Peoplewhotakeclozapinemusthaveregularbloodteststocheckforapotentiallydangeroussideeffectthatoccursin1-2%ofpatients. Peoplerespondtoantipsychoticmedicationsindifferentways.Itisimportanttoreportanysideeffectstoahealthcareprovider.Manypeopletakingantipsychoticmedicationsexperiencesideeffectssuchasweightgain,drymouth,restlessness,anddrowsinesswhentheystarttakingthesemedications.Someofthesesideeffectsmaygoawayovertime,whileothersmaylast. Shareddecisionmakingbetweendoctorsandpatientsistherecommendedstrategyfordeterminingthebesttypeofmedicationormedicationcombinationandtherightdose.Youcanfindthelatestinformationonwarnings,patientmedicationguides,ornewlyapprovedmedicationsonthe U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)website. PsychosocialTreatments Psychosocialtreatmentshelppeoplefindsolutionstoeverydaychallengesandmanagesymptomswhileattendingschool,working,andformingrelationships.Thesetreatmentsareoftenusedtogetherwithantipsychoticmedication.Peoplewhoparticipateinregularpsychosocialtreatmentarelesslikelytohavesymptomsreoccurortobehospitalized. Examplesofthiskindoftreatmentincludecognitivebehavioraltherapy,behavioralskillstraining,supportedemployment,andcognitiveremediationinterventions. YoucanfindinformationaboutpsychosocialtreatmentsontheNationalInstituteofMentalHealth(NIMH)psychotherapieswebpage. FamilyEducationandSupport Educationalprogramscanhelpfamilyandfriendslearnaboutsymptomsofschizophrenia,treatmentoptions,andstrategiesforhelpinglovedoneswiththeillness.Theseprogramscanhelpfriendsandfamilymanagetheirdistress,boosttheirowncopingskills,andstrengthentheirabilitytoprovidesupport.Formoreinformationaboutfamily-basedservicesinyourarea,youcanvisitthefamilyeducationandsupportgroupspageontheNationalAllianceonMentalIllnesswebsite. CoordinatedSpecialtyCare Coordinatedspecialtycare(CSC)programsarerecovery-focusedprogramsforpeoplewithfirstepisodepsychosis,anearlystageofschizophrenia.HealthprofessionalsandspecialistsworktogetherasateamtoprovideCSC,whichincludespsychotherapy,medication,casemanagement,employmentandeducationsupport,andfamilyeducationandsupport.Thetreatmentteamworkscollaborativelywiththeindividualtomaketreatmentdecisions,involvingfamilymembersasmuchaspossible. Comparedwithtypicalcare,CSCismoreeffectiveatreducingsymptoms,improvingqualityoflife,andincreasinginvolvementinworkorschool.CheckhereformoreinformationaboutCSCprograms. AssertiveCommunityTreatment AssertiveCommunityTreatment(ACT)isdesignedespeciallyforindividualswithschizophreniawhoarelikelytoexperiencemultiplehospitalizationsorhomelessness.ACTisusuallydeliveredbyateamofhealthprofessionalswhoworktogethertoprovidecaretopatientsinthecommunity.CheckhereformoreinformationaboutACTprograms. TreatmentforDrugandAlcoholMisuse Itiscommonforpeoplewithschizophreniatohaveproblemswithdrugsandalcohol.Atreatmentprogramthatincludestreatmentforbothschizophreniaandsubstanceuseisimportantforrecoverybecausesubstanceusecaninterferewithtreatmentforschizophrenia. HowcanIhelpafriendorrelativewithschizophrenia? Itcanbedifficulttoknowhowtohelpsomeonewhoisexperiencingpsychosis. Herearesomethingsyoucando: Helpthemgettreatmentandencouragethemtostayintreatment. Rememberthattheirbeliefsorhallucinationsseemveryrealtothem. Berespectful,supportive,andkindwithouttoleratingdangerousorinappropriatebehavior. Lookforsupportgroupsandfamilyeducationprograms,suchasthoseofferedbytheNationalAllianceonMentalIllness. Somesymptomsrequireimmediateemergencycare.Ifyourlovedoneisthinkingaboutattemptingsuicideorotherwiseharmingthemselvesorothers,seekhelprightaway: Call911foremergencyservicesorgotothenearestemergencyroom. CalltheNationalSuicidePreventionLifeline(Lifeline)at1-800-273-TALK(8255)ortexttheCrisisTextLine(textHELLOto741741). FindingHelp Ifyou’renotsurewheretogethelp,yourhealthcareproviderisagoodplacetostart.Yourhealthcareprovidercanreferyoutoaqualifiedmentalhealthprofessional,suchasapsychiatristorpsychologistwhohasexperiencetreatingschizophrenia.YoucanlearnmoreaboutgettinghelponNIMH'sHelpforMentalIllnesswebpage. TheSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)providestheBehavioralHealthTreatmentServicesLocator,anonlinetooltohelpyoufindmentalhealthservicesinyourarea.YoucanfindinformationabouttreatmentfacilitiesthatoffercoordinatedspecialtycarebyusingSAMHSA’sEarlySeriousMentalIllnessTreatmentLocator. Fortipsontalkingwithyourhealthcareprovideraboutyourmentalhealthandgettingthemostoutofyourvisit,readNIMH’sfactsheet,TakingControlofYourMentalHealth:TipsforTalkingWithYourHealthCareProvider. JoinaStudy Clinicaltrialsareresearchstudiesthatlookatnewwaystoprevent,detect,ortreatdiseasesandconditions.Thegoalofclinicaltrialsistodetermineifanewtestortreatmentworksandissafe.Althoughindividualsmaybenefitfrombeingpartofaclinicaltrial,participantsshouldbeawarethattheprimarypurposeofaclinicaltrialistogainnewscientificknowledgesothatothersmaybebetterhelpedinthefuture. ResearchersatNIMHandaroundthecountryconductmanystudieswithpatientsandhealthyvolunteers.Wehavenewandbettertreatmentoptionstodaybecauseofwhatclinicaltrialsuncoveredyearsago.Bepartoftomorrow’smedicalbreakthroughs.Talktoyourhealthcareprovideraboutclinicaltrials,theirbenefitsandrisks,andwhetheroneisrightforyou. Tolearnmoreorfindastudy,visit: NIMH’sClinicalTrialswebpage:Informationaboutparticipatinginclinicaltrials Clinicaltrials.gov:CurrentStudiesonSchizophrenia:ListofclinicaltrialsfundedbytheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)beingconductedacrossthecountry JoinaStudy:Schizophrenia:ListofstudiesbeingconductedontheNIHCampusinBethesda,MD LearnMore FreeBrochuresandShareableResources Schizophrenia:Abriefbrochureonschizophreniathatoffersbasicinformationonsignsandsymptoms,treatment,andfindinghelp.Alsoavailableenespañol. UnderstandingPsychosis:Afactsheetthatpresentsinformationonpsychosis,includingcauses,signsandsymptoms,treatment,andresourcesforhelp.Alsoavailableenespañol. ShareableResourcesonSchizophrenia:Helpsupportschizophreniaawarenessandeducationinyourcommunity.Usethesedigitalresources,includinggraphicsandmessages,tospreadthewordaboutschizophrenia. ResearchandStatistics AcceleratingMedicinesPartnership®Program-Schizophrenia(AMP®SCZ):ThisAMPpublic-privatecollaborativeeffortaimstopromotethedevelopmentofeffective,targetedtreatmentsforthoseatriskofdevelopingschizophrenia.MoreinformationabouttheprogramisalsoavailableontheAMPSCZwebsite. EarlyPsychosisInterventionNetwork(EPINET):Thisbroadresearchinitiativeaimstodevelopmodelsfortheeffectivedeliveryofcoordinatedspecialtycare(CSC)servicesforearlypsychosis. JournalArticles:ThiswebpageprovidesinformationonreferencesandabstractsfromMEDLINE/PubMed(NationalLibraryofMedicine). PsychoticDisordersResearchProgram:Thisprogramsupportsresearchintotheorigins,onset,course,andoutcomeofschizophreniaspectrumdisordersandotherpsychoticillnesses. RecoveryAfteranInitialSchizophreniaEpisode(RAISE):TheNIMHRAISEresearchinitiativeincludedtwostudiesexaminingdifferentaspectsofcoordinatedspecialtycaretreatmentsforpeoplewhowereexperiencingearlypsychosis. SchizophreniaStatistics:ThiswebpageprovidesinformationonthebeststatisticscurrentlyavailableontheprevalenceandtreatmentofschizophreniaintheU.S. LastRevised: April2022 Unlessotherwisespecified,NIMHinformationandpublicationsareinthepublicdomainandavailableforusefreeofcharge.CitationoftheNIMHisappreciated.PleaseseeourCitingNIMHInformationandPublicationspageformoreinformation. ScienceNewsAboutSchizophrenia ClinicalDecisionSupportSystemReducesCardiovascularRiskinPatientsWithSeriousMentalIllness GeneReadoutsContributeToDistinctnessofMentalDisorders SchizophreniaGeneLinkedtoCognition More JoinAStudy SchizophreniaStudiesforAdults FeaturedPublicationsAboutSchizophrenia Schizophrenia Thisbrochureonschizophreniaexplainswhatitis,whenitstarts,andhowtogethelp. More ResearchResults ClinicalAntipsychoticTrialsofInterventionEffectiveness(CATIE) PubMed:JournalArticlesaboutSchizophrenia