This patient was 59 and had been surgically sterilized for over 20 years. She also claimed that her microwave was sending signals out at night to kill her, or, alternatively, that her bicycle would speak to her. These are known as paranoid schizophrenic delusions, and while, at times almost humorous, they can be very dangerous. A good example of this would be David Berkowitz, who believed his neighbor's dog told him to kill people. Although schizophrenia may manifest itself at any time in a person s life, the normal period of inception for women is in their early teenage years.
Men usually experience their first episode in their early twenties.
While not an epidemic, it is a fact that one in every one hundred people will experience some form of schizophrenia in their lifetime for which they will require treatment. The level of severity varies from mild cases to more extreme histories. While one person may have a temporary break with reality, based on a crisis or excessive stress, another person might have a full blown schizophrenic episode, lasting days, months, years or even the remainder of their natural life. While there is no cure, as of yet, there are many available drugs and treatments for a schizophrenic patient. These include Olanzapine, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Serlect, and other drugs.