20 facts about schizophrenia

1. Schizophrenia is a highly disabling and costly medical disorder. In fact, it is ranked among the main conditions contributing to the global burden of disease.

2. Schizophrenia involves positive symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, and negative symptoms, such as flattened affect, cognitive impairment and lack of motivation.

3. The prevalence of schizophrenia is thought to be around 1%, even though some papers show smaller numbers (0,6%, 0,33–0,75% etc.). Its incidence is similar across many countries.

4. The first symptoms usually start in the late teens or early adulthood. Rarely schizophrenia starts in childhood or in the elderly.

5. Proportionally more men are diagnosed than women (1,4:1). Men’s age of onset is earlier than women’s and their prognosis is worse.

6. Anxiety, depression and substance abuse prevalence is higher among schizophrenic patients compared to the general population.

7. People with schizophrenia have higher rates of suicide.

8. Living in cities, being an immigrant, obstetrical complications, late winter birth and advanced or younger paternal age are risk factors for schizophrenia.

9. Approximately 15–20% of the schizophrenic patients have the so-called deficit schizophrenia, a syndrome characterized by prominent negative symptoms. These patients have less addictions, depression and suicide rates, and less positive symptoms, such as dellusions and…