ARTICLE

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that usually mani-f ests as a predominant negative symptoms (PNS), severe psychotic illness with onset in early adulthood, characterised by bizarre delusions, auditory hallucinations, thought disorder, strange behaviour and progressive deterioration in personal, domestic, social and occupational competence, all occurring in clear consciousness.[1] It is among the leading causes of long-term disability in the world,[2] and is the single most important cause of chronic psychiatric disability,[1] contributing about 1.1 % of the global disability-adjusted life years.[3] The presentation of schizophrenia in hospital is usually preceded by a period during which the psychosis may not be adequately recognised and treated. Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is understood as a period from the development of the first symptoms of psychosis to the commencement of appropriate intervention measures, such a