About this factsheet
This is one in a series of factsheets for parents, teachers and
young people entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. The
aims of these factsheets are to provide practical, up-to-date
information about mental health problems (emotional, behavioural
and psychiatric 
disorders) that can affect children and young people.
This factsheet describes what schizophrenia is and how and why it
might affect you. It also offers some practical advice about how to
get help.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a serious illness affecting
thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It is a type of
psychosis. Some people wrongly refer to schizophrenia as
having a ‘split personality’ like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
How common is it?
It rarely occurs before puberty and usually
begins in the late teenage years. About 1 in 100 people will suffer
from schizophrenia over their lifetime.
How do I know if I have ‘schizophrenia’?
When a person suffers from schizophrenia they
may have difficulties described as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’
symptoms. Some difficulties may seem to start suddenly, whereas
others may creep in more gradually. You may have some or most of
the following symptoms.
This does not mean they are ‘good’ symptoms.
They mean unusual thoughts or experiences as described below. They
may feel really distressing. They will feel totally real to you and
it may seem to you that other people don’t understand or aren’t
taking you seriously.
- Unusual beliefs or delusions: These
are beliefs which seem obviously untrue to others, but not to you.
The may feel frightening or seem bizarre. For example,
when you are ill, you might strongly believe that there is a plot
to harm you, you are being spied on through the TV or being taken
over by aliens.
- Muddled thinking or thought disorder
is when it is difficult to think straight. Sometimes it may feel
that others do not understand what you are trying to say. Your
ideas may feel jumbled up, but is more than being muddled or
confused.
- Unusual experiences called
hallucinations are when you see, hear,
smell or feel something that isn’t really there, although you are
convinced that it is. ‘Hearing voices’ is one of the most common
hallucinations. This can be very frightening. It can make you
believe that you are being ‘watched’ or ‘picked on’. Your friends
or family may say that you are acting ‘strangely’. They may say
that they hear you talking or laughing to ‘yourself’.
-
Negative symptoms
This does not mean they are ‘bad’ symptoms,
just that they are about ‘not doing’ something. You may feel tired
and unmotivated and not want to do normal things like:
- go to school
- do sports
- see friends
- get washed and dressed
- hobbies you used to enjoy.
Other symptoms
You may become frustrated and angry,
especially towards your own friends or family. Some people try to
smoke or drink alcohol to feel better, but this tends to make
things worse. You may find the symptoms so distressing that you
feel like harming yourself.
What causes schizophrenia?
This is still not fully understood.
There are a number of reasons that can make a person more
likely to develop schizophrenia or a similar psychotic illness.
- There may be chemical imbalances in the brain.
- Having a parent or close relative suffering from schizophrenia
can increase the chance of developing similar illness.
- Stress or extreme life events (like someone close dying).
- Using drugs like cannabis, LSD, ecstasy and speed
(amphetamine).
How do I get help?
You may not notice there is a problem and
therefore find it difficult to accept that there is something
wrong. Your family or teachers may seek help for you. Your general
practitioner or school nurse can give you good advice. They will be
able to get you specialist help, if it is needed. A psychiatrist
from a child and adolescent
mental health service (CAMHS) may need to see you to
assess your symptoms properly and decide on any treatment
required.
What is the treatment for schizophrenia?
Medications called ‘antipsychotics’ are an important
part of treatment and often need to be taken for a long time in
order to stay well. As with medication of any kind, there may be
side-effects; the doctor will be able to advise you on what they
are and what can be done to help.
If you are taking drugs like cannabis, it is very
important that you stop.
Other forms of treatment are also important.
Both you and your family will need help to understand the
condition, to cope successfully, and to prevent the illness
recurring. Support is often needed to rebuild your confidence to
continue with school, college or work.
You may be referred to a specialist ‘Early
Intervention Service’ (EIS) if available locally. These services
are specialists in helping young people with psychosis. You also
may at some point need treatment in hospital or in a specialist
in-patient service.
Talking treatments can be helpful, but are
usually offered in addition to medication.
What will happen in the future?
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness which means
even if you get better, it might come back later on. This can
happen if you stop taking their medication too soon - so
it’s really important to follow the advice given to you by your
doctor. Your CAMHS or EIS team will also help you and your family
identify ways to help prevent the illness coming back (like
following a healthy lifestyle, coping with stress).
Most young people will recover from their
illness with the right help and treatment. Earlier treatment leads
to better recovery and increases the chances of finishing school or
college, getting a job and getting on with life.
Sources of further information
- Mind: national
mental health charity for England and Wales
- Sane and
Saneline: SANEline is a national
out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and
information for people affected by mental health problems.Tel: 0845
767 8000.
- Young
Minds: websiteoffers information to young people about
mental health and emotional well-being.
Changing Minds: A Multimedia CD-ROM about Mental
Health is intended for 13–17 year olds; it talks about
addiction, stress, eating disorders, depression, and schizophrenia
and self-harm. Further details from the Royal College of
Psychiatrists:
Recommended reading
References
Rutter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
Fifth Edition (2008). Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.
National Institute of Clinical Excellence
(NICE, 2009), Clinical Guidelines, CG82: Core interventions in
the treatment and management of schizophrenia in primary and
secondary care (update).
Series editor: Dr Mona Freeman
Editorial Board: Child and Family Public
Education Editorial Board.
© March 2010. Next due for
review: March 2012. Royal College of Psychiatrists. This leaflet
may be downloaded, printed out, photocopied and distributed free of
charge as long as the Royal College of Psychiatrists is properly
credited and no profit is gained from its use. Permission to
reproduce it in any other way must be obtained from the Head of Publications. The College
does not allow reposting of its leaflets on other sites, but allows
them to be linked to directly.
Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our FAQ for advice on getting help.
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