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Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is the most common of the psychoses. About one to two percent of people in Western countries are treated for schizophrenia at some time in their lives, and many additional schizophrenics never receive clinical attention. About half of the inpatients in U.S. mental hospitals are schizophrenics. The syndrome was first described as an intellectual deterioration and symptoms first occur in early adulthood. Then it was later discovered that the disorder is a splitting of psychic functions. Ideas and feelings are isolated from one another; a patient may speak incoherently, for example, or express frightening or sad ideas in a happy manner. Contrary to some popular accounts, schizophrenics do not have a split personality, even though schizophrenia is Greek for split mind. Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterized by a variety of symptoms including loss of contact with reality, bizarre behavior, disorganized thinking and speech, decreased emotional expressiveness, and social withdrawal. Usually only some of these symptoms occur in any one person. To observers, schizophrenia may seem like madness or insanity. Schizophrenia has a debilitating effect on the lives of people who suffer from it. A person with schizophrenia may have difficulty telling the difference between real and unreal experiences, logical and illogical thoughts, or appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Schizophrenia seriously impairs a person’s ability to work, go to school, enjoy relationships with others, or care for oneself. In addition, people with schizophrenia frequently require hospitalization because they pose a danger to themselves. About 10 percent of people with schizophrenia commit suicide, and many others attempt suicide. Once people develop schizophrenia, they usually suffer from the illness for the rest of their lives. Although there is no cure, treatment can help many people with schizophrenia lead productive lives.
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