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You are in: main> General Description Its Course

The onset of schizophrenia in men is earlier than in women. Usually before the illness can be recognized, there are unusual signs indicating the risk of schizophrenia.

"Neurological soft-signs" - dysgraphaesthesia and gait disturbances may be detected in childhood. These signs seen more often in children who are vulnerable to schizophrenia.

People at risk of schizophrenia may suffer from social isolation and withdrawal, hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms mentioned in the SYMPTOMS section.

The active phase may last forever or disappear spontaneously if untreated. The active phase can be terminated by treatments such as antipsychotic medications.

After an active episode of schizophrenia there may be a complete return to normal function and no further episode may happen. It is also likely that several episodes happen through life.

After the first episode of schizophrenia, some schizophrenics may suffer from future episodes, and some may not. The following figure provides details of situations after the first episode.

Patients have only one episode and had no impairment of personality.
Patients go on to have several episodes with no impairment between.
Patients have multiple episodes with a static personality impairment between.
Patients have multiple episodes with increasing levels of impairment.

The following figure gives the death rate of schizophrenic patients.

Percentage of people with schizophrenia who die by their own hand.
Percentage of other schizophrenics.