Mental illness is not the same as mental retardation. The mentally retarded have a diminished intellectual capacity usually present since birth. Although they may have difficulty performing at a normal level due to their illness, those with a mental illness are usually of normal intelligence. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia affects approximately one in one hundred. The disease affects men and women about equally and its onset is usually in the late teens or early twenties.
Schizophrenia is a thought disorder, where there is a disturbance in thought patterns and processes.
Unfortunately there are many myths about schizophrenia. Their illness is not caused by bad parenting and it is not a weakness of character. Their illness is due to biochemical disturbance of the brain. Approximately one third of those with a schizophrenic episode will never have symptoms again. Another one third will have periodic episodes, with periods with no symptoms in between.