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1. What is schizophrenia?

   Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that is often progressively debilitating for individuals unless they seek intervention through medications, psychosocial treatments and other types of care.

2. Are women at greater risk of developing the disorder compared with men?

   The number of reported cases is split rather evenly between men and women, although schizophrenia tends to present itself at different ages for the two sexes. Onset of the disorder tends to occur earlier for men—usually in the late teens or early 20s—compared to women, who generally begin to show signs of trouble in their 20s or early 30s. An identical twin of someone with schizophrenia has between a 40 percent and 65 percent chance of developing the illness, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports. Interestingly, researchers have found there is a further heightened risk for a female identical twin to develop schizophrenia if her twin has the illness. Women tend to have a less severe form of the disorder and respond better to treatment.

3. Am I at greater risk of developing schizophrenia if I have a close relative who has been diagnosed with the disorder?

   If you have a close relative with the disease, you are more likely to develop it compared with someone who has no close relatives with schizophrenia. Your risk is also slightly elevated if you have a secondary family member with the disease, such as an aunt, uncle, grandparent or cousin. An identical twin of someone with schizophrenia has between a 40 percent and 65 percent chance of developing the illness.

4. What are the early warning signs of schizophrenia?

   Most people who develop schizophrenia begin having delusions and hallucinations. Other early signs include increasing social withdrawal, loss of interests, unusual behavior or decreases in overall functioning before the delusions and hallucinations begin. Speech and behavior tend to become progressively disorganized and confused, and work performance often deteriorates.

5. What are my treatment options if I am diagnosed with the disorder?

   The primary mode of treatment for schizophrenia is a regimen of antipsychotic medications that make a significant difference in eliminating or significantly reducing the hallucinations and delusions. These drugs, which help restore biochemical imbalances to normal levels, also help the patient regain coherent thinking abilities. However, a major drawback to these medications is a wide array of side effects, some of them quite severe for some patients. The good news is that newer antipsychotic medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in recent years and are demonstrating increased efficacy in reducing the most troubling symptoms of schizophrenia without many of the unpleasant side effects of earlier drugs. In addition to medications, health care professionals strongly recommend patients with schizophrenia supplement their drug regimen with an array of psychosocial interventions.

6. What are my chances for a relapse once I am taking medications and following a treatment plan?

   Antipsychotic medications can make a huge difference in the long-term potential for minimizing relapses and hospitalizations. One study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that 60 percent of those with schizophrenia don't take their medications as prescribed. In the study, those who didn't take their medications correctly were two and a half times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric reasons and 70 percent more likely to be hospitalized for non-psychiatric reasons than those who took their medication.

7. Is there any way to prevent myself from developing schizophrenia?

   Unfortunately, the answer is no. From birth, or even earlier, you are already programmed with a predisposition to develop the disorder. However, certain stress factors in your life may contribute to triggering the onset of schizophrenia or determining how severe the disorder affects you. There are no advisory guidelines available that list the potential stressors that could trigger the disorder's onset.