Schizophrenia Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is one of the most feared and misunderstood mental illnesses. Doctors are working to change that.
Few people know what schizophrenia really is.
But multiple personality disorder is a different illness. Schizophrenia often can be controlled with medication, so it's important to notice the signs in loved ones so they can be treated. Left untreated, patients with schizophrenia may become detached from family members or friends, lose their jobs or homes and even commit suicide. Warning signs to look for include changes in personality, withdrawal from friends or family members, difficulty concentrating, deteriorating performance in work and irrational anger or fear toward friends or family members. People with schizophrenia also may become obsessed with religion or the occult and feel that they are being watched or persecuted.