As the most chronic and disabling of the severe mental disorders, schizophrenia is a serious mental illness which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. The illness may impair a person's ability to manage emotions, interact with others, and think clearly, and may cause difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary. The main symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.
Schizophrenia typically develops in the late teens and early twenties.
There is no cure for schizophrenia, and most people continue to experience it chronically or episodically throughout their lives. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a danger to others. With proper treatment, many people with schizophrenia lead productive and fulfilling lives. The cause of schizophrenia is still unclear. There is evidence that people with a relative who has schizophrenia are more likely to develop it.