The document discusses common myths and facts about schizophrenia. It states that schizophrenia is a physical disease, not a split personality, and that with proper treatment and support many people recover from it. While the causes are not fully understood, there is a genetic component. The onset is typically between ages 15-25, not over 50. People with schizophrenia are no more likely to be violent than the general population.

1. The Truth AboutSchizophrenia

2. Schizophrenia is a way of describing a “split personality.”

3. False – Schizophrenia is a disease with a physical cause, like cancer or heart disease.

4. No one can recover from schizophrenia.

5. False – With proper treatment and support, the majority of people do recover.

6. Schizophrenia is a common mental illness.

7. True – About 1% of the world’s population and about 3 million U.S. citizens have schizophrenia.

8. Schizophrenia most commonly begins in people over age 50.

9. False – The onset of schizophrenia normally begins between the ages 15 and 25.

10. Schizophrenia can be caused by bad upbringing, or personal or moral weakness.

11. False – Schizophrenia is a disease with a physical cause

12. Schizophrenia can be diagnosed through a series of medical tests.

13. False – Currently there are no medical tests for schizophrenia, but several tools are used by trained professionals to evaluate and diagnose the disorder.

14. Approximately1 of every 10 people with schizophrenia completes a suicide attempt.

15. True – About 20%-40% of people with schizophrenia attempt to commit suicide.Suicide is the number one cause of death for young people with schizophrenia. Approximately 1 of every 10 people with schizophrenia completes a suicide attempt.

16. Like diabetes, schizophrenia has a genetic pattern.

17. True – There is a hereditary tendency for schizophrenia.

18. Hereditary Tendency RatesGeneral population1%

19. Sibling 5%

20. Child with 1 parent w/schizophrenia10%

21. Dizygotic (Fraternal) co-twin10%

22. Child of 2 parentsw/ schizophrenia 40%

23. Monozygotic (Identical) co-twin 50%People with schizophrenia are often violent.