Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. The disorder is thought to mainly affect the ability to think, but it also usually contributes to chronic problems with behavior and emotion.
People with schizophrenia are likely to have additional conditions or shortcomings due to their illness including, but not limited to: depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, poverty, homelessness, and long-term unemployment. People with the disorder may hear voices other people don't hear. They may believe that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated. Schizophrenia is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in The Bahamas. The disorder occurs equally in men and women, however the age of onset differs based on gender. The average age of onset globally is 18 in men and 25 in women. Schizophrenia onset is quite rare for people under 10 years of age, or over 40 years of age. |