They can go for long periods of time without any symptoms, but because schizophrenia is often a chronic illness it requires ongoing medical attention, like hypertension and diabetes. And contrary to the beliefs that are reinforced by movies, television and books, people with the disorder are more likely to withdraw into isolation or become victims of crime than they are to hurt anyone else. Much less common than other chronic diseases, schizophrenia occurs in around 150 of every 100,000 people, or about one to one and a half percent of the population, and usually appears during adolescence or young adulthood. However, it can be one of the most catastrophic illnesses because it can cause devastating impairments, emotional and financial losses, and the need for intensive medical and supportive care. Types of Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia can appear in one of many forms.
For example, a person who has constant feelings of being watched, followed or persecuted is said to have paranoid schizophrenia. A person who is incoherent but has no delusions is said to have disorganized schizophrenia. A person who lacks initiative, motivation, social interest, enjoyment and emotional responsiveness is said to have undifferentiated schizophrenia. Schizophrenia can vary in intensity, severity and frequency of both psychotic and residual symptoms from person to person. Research has not yet identified the cause of schizophrenia.