Central Health Clinic

Popular usage to the contrary, Schizophrenia is not synonymous with split per­sonality (which falls closest to Dissociative Identity Disorder). Schiz­ophrenia is a brain disorder that causes severe problems in thinking, feeling, and behavior. People with Schizophrenia experience difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy. They also have trouble relating to other people, com­municating through language, controlling their emotions, and making everyday decisions.

Schizophrenia affects approximately two million Ameri­cans, or almost 1 percent of the entire U.S. population, with men and women represented in equal numbers. The illness usually strikes at a relatively young age—the early twenties for men and the late twenties for women. As compared to men, women with Schizophrenia generally display more mood symptoms and have a better lifetime course and response to treatment.