Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a ubiquitous and disabling mental illness affecting several domains of cognition and behaviour. The illness most commonly becomes manifest in early adulthood, and frequently follows a chronic course. It is often a devastating condition that presents a high burden to patients, carers, services and society. Antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment but are limited by significant adverse effects, and therapeutic options for many patients remain inadequate. Schizophrenia is associated with a range of adverse physical health outcomes as a result of treatment, lifestyle factors including substance use, and barriers in accessing healthcare. Psychological and social interventions remain a crucial element of patient care. Current theories view schizophrenia as a disorder of early brain development, and progress in understanding its genetic and environmental determinants has raised the promise of intervening at or before the early stages of illness in order to improve long-term outcomes.