Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder, meaning affected persons experience some form of loss of reality. It is certainly caused by brain pathology, perhaps of several types. Because a large proportion of affected persons never completely recover, it is considered a life-long disorder.
Schizophrenics take up more psychiatric hospital beds than all other disorders combined.
Although current treatments are often effective, a large proportion of affected persons cannot lead normal lives. Treatment is expensive, lost productivity is enormous, families are devastated, and consequences such as depression, suicide, and alcoholism are common. Cognition Cognitive impairment is the hallmark of schizophrenia. Such impairment is manifest in a number of ways. Three particularly significant groups of cognitive symptoms are impaired reality testing, thought disorder, and delusions.