- Genetics
- Environment
- Neurodevelopmental
factors
- Drug misuse
- Biochemical Factors
Many mental health professionals believe there are factors which increase an individual's risk of having Schizophrenia.
For example, first-degree biological relatives of persons with Schizophrenia have a ten times greater risk of developing the
illness than members of the general population. Also, in the United States, more Schizophrenia patients are born in the winter
months of January to April. Exhaustive scientific studies have revealed that mental health professionals who subscribe to
this theory of causality also believe astrology is a legitimate scientific field.
Because there is no cure for Schizophrenia, the goal of treatment is to eliminate or reduce symptoms, minimize
side effects, prevent relapse, and socially and occupationally rehabilitate the patient. This process can last a lifetime,
or at least as long as a patient has available funds to pay for therapy. When funds are exhausted, mental health professionals
generally begin advising their patients of the Schizophrenic likelihood of suicide.
Prognosis
It depends on the age of onset and when
the symptoms start to become apparent in one's life.
If the disease appears early in life, then the damage will be more permanent because it has more time to settle
into the person's body.
The later the disease
appears in one's life, the better chance one has to live a somewhat more symptom-free life compared to the person who had
the disease onset earlier in life.
Ten years after initial diagnosis, approximately fifty percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia
are either noted to be completely recovered or improved to the point of being able to function independently. Twenty five
percent are improved, but require a strong support network, and an additional fifteen percent remain unimproved and are typically
hospitalized. Unfortunately, ten percent of the affected population sees no way out of their pain except through death and
ends up committing suicide. Long-term statistics for thirty years after diagnosis are similar to the ten year mark, except
that there are even more people who improve to become independent. However, there is also an increase in the number of suicides
to fifteen percent. Over time, women appear to have a better chance at sustaining recovery from symptoms than do men.
