What Does Schizophrenic Mean?

Schizophrenics are vastly misunderstood. Schizophrenics suffer from schizophrenia, a mental condition that causes them to view situations from a skewed and inaccurate perspective. Most schizophrenics will develop symptoms of the condition in their late teens to early adulthood.

Significance

• Schizophrenics suffer from a chronic mental illness that impairs brain function and sense of reality. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 percent of the population has schizophrenia.

Effects

• Because they are detached from reality, many schizophrenics find it difficult to hold a job. This causes them to depend on family and friends to care for them and on public assistance to support them financially.

Symptoms

• The most common symptoms experienced by schizophrenics are hearing voices that aren't present, believing they possess special powers, disorganized speech, bizarre behavior and lack of interest in personal hygiene.

Misconceptions

• It is a common misconception that schizophrenics are violent. However, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that schizophrenics are not typically violent and the majority of violent crimes are not committed by schizophrenics.

Treatment

• The most common treatment given to schizophrenics are antipsychotic medications. This medication is classified into two categories, typical and atypical. Typical medications are older medications that have been available since the 1950s. Atypical medications were developed in the 1990s and also are called "second generation" medications.