Globally, what are the odds that an individual will be diagnosed with schizophrenia?”
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness classified as a psychotic disorder. Psychosis affects a person’s thinking, perceptions, and sense of self. Show
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), schizophrenia affects approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population, slightly more males than females. Having a first degree relative (FDR) with schizophrenia is one of the greatest risks for the disorder. While the risk is 1 percent in the general population, having an FDR such as a parent or sibling with schizophrenia increases the risk to 10 percent. The risk jumps to 50 percent if both parents have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, while the risk is 40 to 65 percent if an identical twin has been diagnosed with condition. A 2017 study from Denmark based on nationwide data on over 30,000 twins estimates the heritability of schizophrenia at 79 percent. The study concluded that, based on the risk of 33 percent for identical twins, the vulnerability for schizophrenia isn’t solely based on genetic factors. Although the risk of schizophrenia is higher for family members, the Genetics Home Reference indicates that most people with a close relative with schizophrenia will not develop the disorder themselves. Along with genetics, other potential causes of schizophrenia include:
Prior to 2013, schizophrenia was divided into five subtypes as separate diagnostic categories. Schizophrenia is now one diagnosis. Although the subtypes are no longer used in clinical diagnosis, the names of the subtypes may be known for people diagnosed prior to the DSM-5 (in 2013). These classic subtypes included:
According to the DSM-5, to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, two or more of the following must be present during a 1-month period. At least one must be numbers 1, 2, or 3 on the list:
DSM-5 is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, the guide published by the American Psychiatric Association and used by healthcare professionals for the diagnosis of mental disorders. Research has shown that heredity or genetics can be an important contributing factor for the development of schizophrenia. Although the exact cause of this complex disorder is unknown, people who have relatives with schizophrenia tend to have a higher risk for developing it. This section covers what schizophrenia is, what the symptoms are and how you can get treatment. This information is for people affected by schizophrenia in England who are 18 or over. It’s also for their carers, friends and relatives and anyone interested in this subject. If you would like more advice or information you can contact our Advice and Information Service by clicking here.
Overview
Need more advice?If you need more advice or information you can contact our Advice and Information Service. AboutWhat is schizophrenia?Schizophrenia is a mental illness which affects the way you think. The symptoms may affect how you cope with day to day life. You could be diagnosed with schizophrenia if you experience some of the following symptoms.
Everyone’s experience of schizophrenia is different. Not everyone with schizophrenia will experience all these symptoms. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, schizophrenia affects around 1 in 100 people. For some people, schizophrenia can develop during young adulthood and develop slowly. The early stage of the illness is called ‘the prodromal phase’. During this phase your sleep, emotions, motivation, communication and ability to think clearly may change. We have created a video about ‘what is schizophrenia?’. You can watch this video by clicking on the following
link: What is psychosis, and how is it related to schizophrenia? Experiencing psychosis is usually part of schizophrenia. People who live with other mental health conditions can experience psychosis too. See our webpage on Psychosis for more information. What myths are there about schizophrenia?There are some myths or mistaken beliefs about schizophrenia which come from the media. For example,
This is not the case. The mistake may come from the fact that the name 'schizophrenia' comes from two Greek words meaning 'split' and 'mind'.
Those who live with schizophrenia aren’t usually dangerous. People who live with schizophrenia are far more likely to be harmed by other people than harm others. There is a higher risk of violent behaviour from those who live with schizophrenia. But, as with people who don’t live with schizophrenia, much of the risk is linked to the use of street drugs or alcohol. Sometimes people who live with schizophrenia commit violent crimes. The media often report them in a way which emphasises the person’s mental health diagnosis. This can create fear and stigma in the general public. But it should be remembered that:
So, it’s not right to say that schizophrenia equals dangerous. Diagnosis, symptoms & causesWhat are the symptoms of schizophrenia and how is it diagnosed?How is schizophrenia diagnosed?Only a psychiatrist can diagnose you with schizophrenia after a full psychiatric assessment. You may have to see the psychiatrist a few times before they diagnose you. This is because they need to see how often you are experiencing symptoms. There are currently no blood tests or scans that can prove if you have schizophrenia. So, psychiatrists use manuals to diagnose schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The 2 main manuals used by medical professionals are the:
What is the future of diagnosis in schizophrenia? In the future, brain scans and other tools may be used to diagnose different types of schizophrenia. This will hopefully allow people who live with schizophrenia to receive more personalised treatments. But these approaches are still being developed. What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?The symptoms of schizophrenia are commonly described as positive symptoms or negative symptoms. This doesn’t mean that they are good or bad. ‘Positive’ symptoms are experienced in addition to reality. ‘Negative’ symptoms are a ‘lack’ of feelings or behaviours that are normally present. Both of these types of symptoms can affect your ability to function. The negative symptoms of schizophrenia can often appear several years before somebody experiences their first episode of psychosis. A diagnosis of schizophrenia does not mean that you will experience all types of symptoms. The way that your illness affects you will depend on the type of schizophrenia that you have. For example, not everyone with schizophrenia will experience hallucinations or delusions. What are the ‘positive symptoms’ of schizophrenia?The term ‘positive symptoms’ is used to describe symptoms that are experienced in addition to reality . These symptoms can also happen in other mental illnesses. They are usually called ‘psychotic symptoms’ or ‘psychosis’. The following are some examples of positive symptoms.
Hallucinations
Hearing voices or other sounds is the most common hallucination. Hearing voices is different for everyone. For example, voices may be:
You might hear voices sometimes or all of the time. Delusions
You may not always find these experiences distressing, although people often do. You may be able to stay in work and function well even if you have these experiences. Disorganised thinking This is sometimes known as ‘word salad’. What are the ‘negative symptoms’ of schizophrenia?The term ‘negative symptoms’ is used to describe symptoms that involve loss of ability and enjoyment in life. The following are some examples of negative symptoms. ,
Cognitive Impairment
Negative symptoms aren’t as obvious as positive symptoms. They may last longer, and stay after positive symptoms fade away. Some people with schizophrenia feel that the negative symptoms of their illness are more serious than the positive symptoms. The experience of negative symptoms varies for each person. For more information see our webpages on the following:
What are the types of schizophrenia?There are different types of schizophrenia. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) manual describes them as below. Schizophrenia with paranoia
Hebephrenic schizophrenia
Catatonic schizophrenia
Simple schizophrenia
Residual schizophreniaThis type of schizophrenia is diagnosed in the later stages of schizophrenia. You may be diagnosed with this if you have a history of schizophrenia but only continue to experience negative symptoms. SchizophreniformSchizophreniform disorder is a type of psychotic illness with symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia. But symptoms last for a short period. Unspecified schizophreniaSymptoms meet the general conditions for a diagnosis, but do not fit in to any of the above categories. What causes schizophrenia?Nobody knows exactly what causes schizophrenia, it is likely to be the result of several factors. For example:
There is research to suggest that may be an association between menopause and schizophrenia. This may be due to the hormonal changes during this stage of life for women. For more information see our webpages on the following:
Treatment & self careHow is schizophrenia treated?There are different types of treatment available. Medical professionals should work with you to find the right treatment for you. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that you should be offered a combination of medication and talking therapies. People who live with schizophrenia can respond to treatment differently. For many treatment helps to reduce symptoms to help make daily life easier. You may find that you need to continue with treatment to keep well. For every 5 people with schizophrenia:
What medication should I be offered?Your doctor may offer you medication known as an ‘antipsychotic’. These reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, but don’t cure the illness. Your healthcare professionals should work with you to help choose a medication. If you want, your carer can also help you make the decision. Doctors should explain the benefits and side effects of each drug. In the past, some antipsychotics had negative side effects. Some people find that the side effects of newer antipsychotic drugs are easier to manage. If you have been on an antipsychotic for a few weeks and the side effects are too difficult to cope with, you should ask your doctor about trying a different one. NICE state that people who have not responded to at least 2 other antipsychotic drugs should be offered clozapine. Antipsychotic medication can come as tablets, a syrup or as an injection. The injections are called a depot. You may find a depot useful if you struggle to remember to take your medication, or might take too much. Your doctor should take your views into account when prescribing you medication. Your medication should be reviewed at least once a year. What type of psychosocial treatment will I be offered?Your doctor should offer you psychosocial treatments. These treatments help you to look at how your thoughts and behaviour are influenced by the people and society you live in. This can include the following. Cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp) Family intervention Family intervention is where you and your family work with mental health professionals to help to manage relationships. It should be offered to people who you live with or who you are in close contact with. The support that you and your family are given will depend on what problems there are and what preferences you all have. This could be group family sessions or individual sessions. Your family should get support for 3 months to 1 year and should have at least 10 planned sessions. Family intervention could be to,
Family intervention could help you and your family to:
Psychoeducation Arts therapies NHS Early intervention teamsEarly intervention teams are specialist NHS services which provide treatment and support for people when they first experience psychosis and schizophrenia. They are usually made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and support workers. Your doctor should refer you to an early intervention team when they diagnose you with a first episode of psychosis. NICE suggests that you should start treatment within 2 weeks of referral. Early intervention services operate differently across the country. If there is not a service in your area, then you should have access to a crisis or home treatment team. For more information see our webpages on the following:
What if I am not happy with my treatment?If you are not happy with your treatment you can:
There is more information about these options below. Treatment optionsYou should first speak to your doctor about your treatment. Explain why you are not happy with it. You could ask what other treatments you could try. Tell your doctor if there is a type of treatment that you would like to try. Doctors should listen to your preference. If you are not given this treatment, ask your doctor to explain why it is not suitable for you. Second opinionA second opinion means that you would like a different doctor to give their opinion about what treatment you should have. You can also ask for a second opinion if you disagree with your diagnosis. You don’t have a right to a second opinion. But your doctor should listen to your reason for wanting a second opinion. AdvocacyAn advocate is independent from the mental health service. They are free to use. They can be useful if you find it difficult to get your views heard. There are different types of advocates available. Community advocates can support you to get a health professional to listen to your concerns. And help you to get the treatment that you would like. You can search online to search for a local advocacy service. If you can’t find a service, you can call our advice service on 0808 801 0525. We will look for you. But this type of service doesn’t exist in all areas. The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)PALS is part of the NHS. They give information and support to patients. You can find your local PALS’ details through this website
link: ComplaintsIf you can’t sort your problem, you can make a complaint. This is where your concerns are investigated in further detail. You can ask a member of your health team to explain how to make a complaint You can ask an advocate to help you make a complaint. Advocates that do this are called Independent Health Complaints Advocates. They are free to use and don’t work for the NHS. For more information see our webpages on the following:
What can I do to manage schizophrenia?People deal with their experience in different ways. You might need to try different things before finding something that works. Support groupsYou could join a support group. A support group is where people come together to share information, experiences and give each other support. Hearing about the experiences of others can help you feel understood. This may help you feel less alone and boost your self-confidence. You might be able to find a local group by searching online. Rethink Mental Illness have support groups in some areas. You can find out what is available in your area, or get help to set up your own support group if you follow this link: www.rethink.org/about-us/our-support-groups. Or you can call our advice service on 0808 801 0525 for more information. Recovery CollegeRecovery colleges are part of the NHS. They offer free courses about mental health to help you manage your experiences. They can help you to take control of your life and become an expert in your own wellbeing and recovery. You can usually self-refer to a recovery college. But the college may tell your care team. Unfortunately, recovery colleges are not available in all areas. To see if there is a recovery college in your area you can use a search engine such as Google. Or you can call our advice service on 0808 801 0525 for more information. Peer support through the NHSYour doctor may offer you peer support. Peer support is when you work with someone who has lived experience of psychosis. And who are now in recovery. They should be able to offer advice and support with:
Self-management techniquesManaging your condition on your own is called self-help. Health professionals may offer you help to manage your condition on your own. They may call this a self-management programme. You can try some of the suggestions below to manage or cope with upsetting experiences.
Taking control of the voicesIf you hear voices, you could:
For more information see our webpages on the following:
RecoveryIs it possible to recover from schizophrenia?Many people who live with schizophrenia have recovery journeys that lead them to live meaningful lives. Recovery can be thought of in terms of:
What is clinical recovery?Your doctor might have talked to you about ‘recovery’. Some doctors and health professionals think of recovery as:
Sometimes this is called ‘clinical recovery’. Everyone’s experience of clinical recovery is different.
What is personal recovery?Dealing with symptoms is important to a lot of people. But some people think that recovery is wider than this. We call this ‘personal recovery.’ Personal recovery means that you can live a meaningful life. What you think of as being a meaningful life might be different to how other people see it. You can think about what you would like to do to live a meaningful life and work towards that goal. Below are some ways you can think of recovery.
Recovery is an ongoing process. It is normal to have difficulties or setbacks along the way. You could describe yourself as ‘recovered’ at any stage if you feel things are better than they were before. What can help me recover?You may want to think about the following questions.
The following things can be important in recovery.
See our webpage on Recovery for more information. Sometimes it can be helpful to hear other people’s recovery stories. Sarah's storyRisksWhat risks and complications can schizophrenia cause? Physical healthResearch suggests that people with serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia, have a shorter life expectancy. People with mental illness may die 15 to 20 years earlier than the general population. , This may because people who live with SMI are at higher risk of having a range of health issues. Such as being overweight, having heart disease, smoking and diabetes. , Because of these issues, NICE recommends that when you start taking antipsychotic medication, your doctor should do a full range of physical health checks. This should include weight, blood pressure and other blood tests. These checks should be repeated regularly. Mental health professionals are responsible for doing these checks for the first year of treatment. Responsibility may then pass to your GP. Your doctor or mental health team should offer you a programme which combines healthy eating and physical health checks. You should be supported by a healthcare professional to help stop smoking. SuicideThe risk of suicide is increased for people with schizophrenia. Research indicates that around 5–13% of people who live with with schizophrenia die by suicide. Research has found that the increased risk is not usually because of positive symptoms. The risk of suicide is associated more to affective symptoms, such as low mood. Key risk factors for suicide include:
Carers, friends & familyWhat if I am a carer, friend or relative?It can be distressing if you are a carer, friend or relative of someone who has schizophrenia. You can get support. How can I get support for myself?You can do the following.
What is a carers assessment? The CMHT should tell you about your right to have a carers assessment through your local authority. To get a carer’s assessment you need to contact your local authority. How do I get support from my peers? How can I support the person I care for?You can do the following.
What is a care plan? A care plan should always include a crisis plan. A crisis plan will have information about who to contact if they become unwell. You should be given information about what to do in a crisis. You can use this information to support and encourage them to stay well and get help if needed. Can I be involved in care planning? What can I do if my friend or family member is in crisis? If you think that your friend or family member is a risk of harm to themselves or others you can:
Your nearest relative is a legal term under the Mental Health Act. It is different to ‘next of kin.’ Your nearest relative has certain rights. What is a Mental Health Act Assessment? How do I ask for a Mental Health Act assessment? An AMHP works for social services but can often be found through the community mental health team (CMHT) or mental health crisis team. It is best if the request comes from your friend or family member’s nearest relative. The only way to give someone treatment who doesn’t want it is through the Mental Health Act. Your friend or family member will only be detained under the Mental Health Act if they are assessed as a high risk to themselves or other people. There is no definition for what high risk means. It could include:
Think about the following questions:
Because of the stress involved in detaining someone it is usually the best option if your friend or family member can be encouraged to get the help for themselves, such as though their GP. There is no extra care available whilst detained, compared to in the community. For more information see our webpages on the following:
Further readingAt Rethink Mental Illness, we have done some reports into severe mental illness. You can read more about this here: www.rethink.org/aboutus/who-we-are/the-schizophrenia-commission Eleanor Longden – The voices in my headThis video tells Eleanor’s story about the voices she hears. She talks about her journey back to better mental health. And she makes the case that by learning to listen to her voices she was able to survive. Website: www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_longden_the_voices_in_my_head The BBC – Why do people hear voices in their heads?This BBC radio programme looks at what causes people to hear voices. You can listen to it online or download it. Website: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvtc3 Understanding VoicesA website produced by Durham University together with mental health professionals, voice-hearers and their families. The website aims to make it easier for people to find information about different approaches to voice-hearing. And ways of supporting those who are struggling with the voices they hear. Website: www.understandingvoices.com/ Me and My MindA website produced by the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. The service is for young people in the SLaM area. But there is lots of useful information on the website and resources you can download. Website: www.meandmymind.nhs.uk/ Avatar TherapyResearchers have been looking into how computer-based treatment may help with hearing voices. , This treatment is known as avatar therapy. Avatar therapy is not available on the NHS at the moment. In this therapy you create a computer-generated face with a voice which is like a voice you hear. This is called an ‘avatar’. You work with a therapist to talk to the avatar and gain more control over the voice you hear. Results show that this therapy is helpful for some people. But there is more research taking place. Avatar Therapy UCL webpage: www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/project/avtherapy/ Caring for someone with psychosis or schizophreniaThis is a free, online course provided by Kings College in London. It is aimed at people who care for people who have psychosis or schizophrenia. Website: www.futurelearn.com/courses/caring-psychosis-schizophrenia Useful contactsThe Royal College of
Psychiatrists Telephone: 020 7235 2351 The Hearing Voices Network (HVN) Email: Intervoice Email: Headway Telephone:
0808 800 2244 Need more advice?If you need more advice or information you can contact our Advice and Information Service. What are the chances of being diagnosed with schizophrenia?According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), schizophrenia affects approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population, slightly more males than females.
What percentage of the population will be diagnosed with schizophrenia some time in their life?(January 2022) Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe brain disorder that interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others. Although it affects barely 1% of the population, it is one of the most disabling diseases affecting humankind.
How many people are diagnosed with schizophrenia each year?Schizophrenia stats suggest that in a given year, roughly 100,000 people will be diagnosed with this disorder in the U.S. To date, there are as many as 3.5 million cases of schizophrenia that have been diagnosed.
What percentage of the US is diagnosed with schizophrenia?Statistical Prevalence of Schizophrenia
Worldwide about 1 percent of the population is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and approximately 1.2% of Americans (3.2 million) have the disorder.
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