But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org , the AAFP patient education Web site. Schizophrenia is a chronic disabling illness that may be caused by abnormal amounts of chemicals in the brain.
Neurotransmitters control our thought processes and emotions.
Schizophrenic people may seem different from other people. They may seem to express emotions less than other people do. They may keep to themselves, withdrawing from social contacts. At times they may seem slowed down, lacking energy. They may believe that others are spying on them or that they are a famous person from history.