With good and ongoing treatment it is possible to live an enjoyable and fulfilling life. Most people improve with treatment, although recurrences are possible. There are certain factors that make some people more likely to see the best improvement in function, such as: Functioning well before the onset of schizophrenia.
Still, those with high functioning schizophrenia can lead successful lives. If you are among the estimated 24 million people worldwide living with schizophrenia, learning about the science behind your condition can be helpful, especially when considering treatment.
Most people with schizophrenia make a recovery, although many will experience the occasional return of symptoms (relapses). Support and treatment can help you to manage your condition and the impact it has on your life.
Most people with schizophrenia live independently with community support. In people with a first episode of psychosis a good long-term outcome occurs in 42% of cases, an intermediate outcome in 35% of cases, and a poor outcome in 27% of cases.
Schizophrenia Recovery
Some people do recover “fully” from schizophrenia. Ten years after diagnosis: 50% of people with schizophrenia recover or improve to the point they can work and live on their own. 25% are better but need help from a strong support network to get by.
Driving with Schizophrenia
A letter from the treating doctor may be required stating the person is capable of driving safely. An additional challenge is that a physician's-office-based assessment of a person's driving skills correlates only minimally with scores on standardized road tests.
Never tell your loved one that their symptoms are “not true,” “not real,” “imaginary,” or all in their head. Aim to be nonjudgmental. Try to avoid judgment or negativity about their experiences or perceptions. Don't pressure them to talk.
Schizophrenia is a complicated disorder. This makes it hard to say what it feels like. Generally, it all boils down to a person's unique symptoms. This can include disorganized thinking, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, agitation, or a loss of interest in activities.
Schizophrenia is a serious condition that can impact how someone behaves, thinks, and feels. People with schizophrenia may appear as though they have lost touch with reality, causing severe distress for themselves, their family, and friends.
With a dedication to ongoing treatment, often beginning with intensive residential care, most individuals can live normal or almost-normal lives. Most patients will get better but still have occasional episodes, but about 20 percent will recover within five years.
Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.
People with schizophrenia hold all kinds of positions, including senior managers and other professionals, cleaners and laborers, and salespeople. You may not have experience in a certain field, but if the job tasks fit your abilities, give it a try. Keep an open mind.
Overall, people who live with schizophrenia have lower IQ scores than those who don't experience the condition. There are people who live with schizophrenia who have higher IQ scores, and they appear to have somewhat different symptoms than those with lower scores.
Many people with schizophrenia can manage their condition and hold a job. However, depending on the severity of a person's symptoms, schizophrenia may limit their ability to find and maintain gainful employment. People with severe or unmanaged symptoms may find obtaining or keeping a job difficult.
Schizophrenia is a disorienting and often frightening condition for people who have it, causing them to lose touch with reality and their ability to tell what's real and what isn't. When people experience paranoia, they may struggle to trust people who want to help.
In the past, it was accepted that schizophrenia can worsen as people age. However, research in recent years suggests that although some symptoms may get worse with age, others will remain stable, and some symptoms may actually improve with age.
Zelda Fitzgerald
This writer, artist, and 1920s fashion symbol was married to The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald. During their rocky, unhappy marriage, Zelda had several mental breakdowns and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She spent the last two decades of her life in and out of psychiatric hospitals.
Not taking medication regularly or as prescribed is by far the most common cause of schizophrenia relapse. Persistent use of drugs or alcohol and criticism from caregivers are next on the list. "Many people with schizophrenia abuse some type of drug, most commonly marijuana," Frangou says.
Medications are the cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment, and antipsychotic medications are the most commonly prescribed drugs. They're thought to control symptoms by affecting the brain neurotransmitter dopamine.
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition hallmarked by unpredictable emotions, hallucinations, and delusions. While dating someone with this disorder can sometimes be difficult, learning as much as you can about schizophrenia can help shape your relationship in a meaningful way.
Someone might see lights, objects, people, or patterns. Often it's loved ones or friends who are no longer alive. They may also have trouble with depth perception and distance.