schizophrenia

[undercovers]

the general (daily mail) perception of schizophrenics is that they are dangerous and need locking up. I wonder though does the disease necessarily make you violent / dangerous, are there schizophrenic suffers who are perfectly balanced and responsible and lead reletively normal lives AND is it possible that if these people do exist they do not realise that they are "different" and just quietly get on with there lives

[rekstout]

As I understand it, it is a disorder which can be broken down in numerous different types but the primary concern for most people suffering any for of it is that it is unpredictable - someone may hear voices or experience hallucinations for years without acting violent and then suddenly become an extreme danger to themselves and others. As with many other mental illnesses, people can live their entire lives with it and never know unless they have a psychotic episode of some sort.

[justawife]

i am close friends with a person with this disease. he is a single father of 3 and has a job. he takes several medications and is "normal". as long as he takes his meds he is no danger to anyone. before he had meds he was only dangerous to himself.

[scubadiver]

Rekstout is right - Schizophrenia can be broken down into many classification types, depending on symptoms. Usually the patient has no insight - ie, they don't feel that there is anything wrong or odd about their behaviour or beliefs. It usually takes a third party to notice any "abnormal" behaviour or thinking. Most schizo syptoms are more of a problem for the patient than anyone else - it is only if they have a psychotic episode that they may become violent to anyone else. The problem with the illness is that once someone has suffered one episode of schizophrenia, they are then more at risk of further episodes. Each time, the chances are that their level of functioning will return to less than it was before the relapse. Because the person has no insight into the fact that they are ill, they aren't neccesserily motivated to continue to take medication, again leading to increased risk of relapse. I would also agree with Justawife - when a schizophrenia sufferer is taking their medication, they can be "normal" and lead a balanced and responsible life. However, this relies on them continuing to be motivated to take their medication.