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What is schizophrenia?
What is schizophrenia?
It’s a severe, lifelong mental health disorder that causes a person to view reality in an abnormal way. People who have this condition may hear voices that aren't there. They may act paranoid and think other people are trying to hurt them. Sometimes they don't make sense when they talk. The condition makes it hard for them to carry out normal daily tasks, like maintaining a job or taking care of themselves.
Schizophrenia can occur at any age, but the average age of onset tends to be:
For men: in their late teens to the early 20s
For women: in their late 20s to early 30s
People usually do not usually develop schizophrenia before age 12 or after age 45.
Schizophrenia can cause a wide range of experiences and behaviors. They can start suddenly, or they might develop slowly over time, but each person's experience is unique.
A doctor might suggest you have schizophrenia if you have some of these symptoms:
Having little motivation or interest in life
Not wanting to take care of yourself
Feeling detached from your emotions
Trouble thinking or remembering
Wanting to avoid people
Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing or smelling things that others don't
Delusions (strong beliefs that others don't share), including paranoid delusions
Disorganized thinking and speech that is jumbled or doesn’t make sense
Experts aren’t sure what is the single cause of schizophrenia. A person’s genes, environment and brain structure may play a role.
Research suggests some other possible causes, including:
Genetics. Your likelihood of developing schizophrenia is more than six times higher if you have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with the disorder.
Environment. Exposure to viruses or poor nutrition before birth (in the first and second trimesters) has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia.
Brain chemistry. Problems with certain brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called “dopamine” and “glutamate,” may contribute to schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters allow brain cells to communicate with each other.
Substance use. Some studies suggest that taking mind-altering drugs during teen years and young adulthood can increase the risk of schizophrenia. The younger and more frequent the use, the greater the risk.
Diagnosing schizophrenia is not easy. There’s no simple test for it. Sometimes using drugs, such as methamphetamines or LSD, can cause a person to have schizophrenia-like symptoms. What makes it even more challenging is that many people who get diagnosed do not believe they have the condition.
If you're having symptoms, you’ll want to start by talking with your doctor. They may refer you to a mental health specialist, who can screen you by asking you questions.
What are some treatment options?
What are some treatment options?
There is no cure for schizophrenia and people who have it need lifelong treatment. Medicine and therapy can help with managing many of the symptoms. You may need to try different medicines to see which works best. You should stay on your medicine for as long as your doctor recommends. Other treatments can help you deal with your illness from day to day. These include family education, rehabilitation, skills training and other types of therapy.
How can you support someone who may have schizophrenia?
If you think someone you know may have symptoms of schizophrenia, talk to them about your concerns. You can't force someone to seek professional help, but you can offer comfort and support. You can also help them find the right doctor or mental health specialist.
You can get a better understanding of schizophrenia by hearing from someone who has it. Watch this video about one man's experience. Or visit Mind to learn more.