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Schizophrenia does not mean "split personality." It is a term used for a group of thought disorders in which the sufferer loses contact with reality. The illness often results in chronic ill health and some degree of personality change.

How severe the illness is varies from person to person. At times, people with schizophrenia appear normal. During an acute or psychotic phase, though, persons cannot think straight and may lose all sense of who they or others are.

Schizophrenia occurs in about 1.5% of the population. It affects men and women equally.

It usually begins during adolescence or young adulthood, but it can also begin in middle or late life.

The exact cause for schizophrenia is not known. Many factors play a role:

• The risk increases if one or both parents have schizophrenia.
• Factors in the environment. It may be triggered by stress or viral infections.
• Brain abnormalities, such as making too much of a certain brain chemical called dopamine.

How to Recognize Schizophrenia

Often, the sufferer's family or friends are the first to notice the personality and behavior changes that go with schizophrenia. These changes may not be evident for months or even years. Initially, the person may:

• Feel tense
• Be unable to concentrate or sleep
• Withdraw from day-to-day activities and social events
• Neglect personal grooming
• Show problems in communicating
• Schizophrenia cannot be cured. It can, though, be controlled. Treatment for it depends on its type and severity. Severe cases need treatment in a hospital. This usually includes medication, therapy, and rehabilitation. Medications most often used are anti-psychotics or major tranquilizers
• Therapy can help the sufferer and their family and friends cope with the emotional aspects of the disorder. Its goal is to also help the person learn how to deal with stress and prevent future stresses from leading to further illness. This is very important because schizophrenic attacks come and go in cycles of relapse and remission.