In women, schizophrenia often first appears during their 20s or early 30s. Statistics indicate that schizophrenia affects 1.1 percent of the population in the United States. A child born into a family with one or more schizophrenic family member has a greater chance of develop ing schizophrenia than a child born into a family with no history of schizophrenia. After a person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia in a family, the chance for a sibling to also be diagnosed with schizophrenia is 7 to 8 percent. If a parent has schizophrenia, the chance for a child to have the disorder is 10 to 15 percent.
Risks increase with multiple affected family members.
One of the most disturbing and puzzling characteristics of schizophrenia is the sudden onset of its psychotic symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms of schizophrenia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. T he symptoms of schizophrenia may resemble other problems or psychiatric conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.