Schizophrenia
<p ><b>Schizophrenia</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English" >/</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English" >ˌskɪtsɵˈfrɛniə</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English" >/</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English" >/</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English" >ˌskɪtsɵˈfriːniə</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English" >/</a>) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder" title="Mental disorder" >mental disorder</a> characterized by a breakdown of thought processes and by poor emotional responsiveness.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#cite_note-0" >[1]</a></sup> It most commonly manifests itself as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_hallucination" title="Auditory hallucination" >auditory hallucinations</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia" title="Paranoia" >paranoid</a> or bizarre <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion" title="Delusion" >delusions</a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_disorder" title="Thought disorder" >disorganized speech and thinking</a>, and it is accompanied by significant social or occupational dysfunction. The onset of symptoms typically occurs in young adulthood, with a global lifetime <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence" title="Prevalence" >prevalence</a> of about 0.3–0.7%.<sup id="cite_ref-Lancet09_1-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#cite_note-Lancet09-1" >[2]</a></sup> Diagnosis is based on observed behavior and the patient's reported experiences.</p>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics" title="Genetics" >Genetics</a>, early environment, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurobiology" title="Neurobiology" class="mw-redirect" >neurobiology</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology" title="Psychology" >psychological</a> and social processes appear to be important contributory factors; some recreational and prescription drugs appear to cause or worsen symptoms. Current research is focused on the role of neurobiology, although no single isolated organic cause has been found. The many possible combinations of symptoms have triggered debate about whether the diagnosis represents a single disorder or a number of discrete syndromes. Despite the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology" title="Etymology" >etymology</a> of the term from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek" title="Ancient Greek" >Greek</a> roots <i>skhizein</i> (<i>σχίζειν</i>, "to split") and <i>phrēn, phren-</i> (<i>φρήν, φρεν-</i>; "mind"), schizophrenia does not imply a "split personality," or "multiple personality disorder" (which is known these days as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder" title="Dissociative identity disorder" >dissociative identity disorder</a>)—a condition with which it is often confused in public perception.<sup id="cite_ref-BMJ07_2-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#cite_note-BMJ07-2" >[3]</a></sup> Rather, the term means a "splitting of mental functions", because of the symptomatic presentation of the illness.</p>
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The mainstay of treatment is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotic" title="Antipsychotic" >antipsychotic</a> medication, which primarily suppresses <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine" title="Dopamine" >dopamine</a> (and sometimes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin" title="Serotonin" >serotonin</a>) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptor_(biochemistry)" title="Receptor (biochemistry)" >receptor</a> activity. </p>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapy" title="Psychotherapy" >Psychotherapy</a> and vocational and social rehabilitation are also important in treatment. In more serious cases—where there is risk to self and others—involuntary hospitalization may be necessary, although hospital stays are now shorter and less frequent than they once were.<sup id="cite_ref-BeckerKilian2006_3-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#cite_note-BeckerKilian2006-3" >[4]</a></sup></p>
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The disorder is thought mainly to affect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognition" title="Cognition" >cognition</a>, but it also usually contributes to chronic problems with behavior and emotion. People with schizophrenia are likely to have additional (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comorbidity" title="Comorbidity" >comorbid</a>) conditions, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_depressive_disorder" title="Major depressive disorder" >major depression</a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety_disorder" title="Anxiety disorder" >anxiety disorders</a>; the lifetime occurrence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse" title="Substance abuse" >substance abuse</a> is almost 50%.<sup id="cite_ref-Sim_et_al_2006_4-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#cite_note-Sim_et_al_2006-4" >[5]</a></sup> </p>
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Social problems, such as long-term unemployment, poverty and homelessness, are common. The average <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_expectancy" title="Life expectancy" >life expectancy</a> of people with the disorder is 12 to 15 years less than those without, the result of increased physical health problems and a higher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide" title="Suicide" >suicide</a> rate (about 5%).<sup id="cite_ref-Lancet09_1-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia#cite_note-Lancet09-1" >[2]</a></sup></p>