chizophrenia is a disease characterized by disturbances of language, perception, thinking, social activity, emotions, and the ability to make decisions. The disease commonly begins in late adolescence or in people on the verge of adulthood.

In the United States alone, approximately 2.5 million people suffer from this disease (U.S. Statistics). Schizophrenia transcends all socioeconomic factors. The two main subtypes of schizophrenia are:

Catatonic: describes those whose behavior is dominated by profound changes in motor activity, engaging in purposeless movements and exaggerated mannerisms; negativism, the tendency to do the opposite of what is asked; and echolalia, the repetition of what others say as if echoing them. The person also appears to be in a stupor.

Paranoid: describes those who have a prominent preoccupation with delusional thoughts, speech, and behavior (i.e., hearing voices that others don't hear, seeing images that others don't see, and holding beliefs contrary to reality, such as the belief that others are out to get them).

In the U.S. the estimated cost to treat this disease is $33 billion annually.

Although the cause is largely unknown, research continues to be conducted, and more is being learned about this disease.

Antipsychotic drugs remain the cornerstone of treatment of schizophrenia; however, psychoeducational efforts directed toward families and relevant community resources have proved to maintain stability and optimize a positive outcome (see "Resources for Sufferers and Their Families").

_________________________
Source: E. Braunwald, A. Fauci, et al., eds., Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Div., 2001), pp. 2554-2557.