How Common Is Schizophrenia As A Mental Health Disorder?
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that impacts millions of people worldwide. Due to stigma and media portrayals of this condition, schizophrenia is often painted as a rare and taboo condition, and it may not be frequently discussed in social circles. However, because millions of people experience schizophrenia and can be impacted by these stigmas, it can be crucial to understand the correct statistics and how people with schizophrenia can find helpful and empathetic support in their communities. Often, treatment for schizophrenia involves therapy with a licensed mental health professional, which can take place in person or online.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental illness and psychotic disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), published by the American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association. In previous editions of the DSM, schizophrenia was considered a broader label with several subtypes. However, the DSM-V labels it as a “schizophrenia spectrum disorder,” meaning symptoms can exist on a spectrum unique to each individual, and there are no specific diagnostic criteria for any one subtype.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
In general, several symptoms of schizophrenia must be present for this condition to be diagnosed, including two or more of the following symptoms:
- Delusions (Strictly held false beliefs)
- Hallucinations (Sensory perceptions that are not truly occurring)
- Disorganized speech and behavior
- Catatonia
- Paranoia
- Negative symptoms, such as diminished emotional expression
- Decreased function in multiple areas of life
Schizophrenia can occur in several stages, including prodromal, active, and residual. Although residual schizophrenia is no longer considered an official subtype, residual symptoms may still occur outside of active episodes. Prodromal symptoms may occur for up to a few years before an active episode and can be the first sign of the disorder’s development. Risk factors for developing schizophrenia may include genetics, traumatic experiences, and environmental factors.
The diagnostic gap in schizophrenia
Because schizophrenia can be a highly stigmatized condition, it may be difficult for people to seek a diagnosis. In addition, people with active psychosis may not be able to understand their symptoms. If they do not have a healthy support system, they may end up in the criminal justice system or homeless, which can lead to not receiving the proper support to secure a diagnosis and effective treatment.
Although updated research may be needed, older studies suggest that approximately 67.8% of people with schizophrenia receive support.
Education, destigmatization of mental illnesses, and more accessible resources may be steps toward ensuring proper statistics when looking at the rate of schizophrenia in various populations. This process may also include looking at how many people in the criminal justice system and those who are homeless are experiencing schizophrenia.
Studies show that rates of schizophrenia tend to be higher in homeless populations. Homeless individuals may have lower incomes, which could reduce their chances of receiving an official diagnosis or treatment, potentially leading to a further treatment gap.
How common is schizophrenia?
Various studies have investigated the prevalence of schizophrenia, which has been difficult to measure due to a lack of research. Below are a few of these studies and statistics.
How common is schizophrenia in the United States?
Prevalence estimates can vary based on the source. For this reason, more studies on the prevalence of schizophrenia and the diagnostic gaps in the healthcare system may be beneficial to fully understand how many people are living with schizophrenia.
How common is schizophrenia worldwide?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in 300 people worldwide may be living with schizophrenia, amounting to approximately 0.32% of the population. However, because it can be difficult for people with schizophrenia to seek support, and due to a lack of support options in some countries, this number may be higher than the current estimation.
Other population statistics
Schizophrenia is considered a severe mental illness and tends to be associated with various other statistics related to diagnosis and treatment, including the following:
- One in three people with psychosis worldwide may receive specialized mental healthcare, which can suggest a need for better support.
- According to the above study, 50% of people in mental health hospitals are thought to have a schizophrenia diagnosis.
- In 2019, 46% of people with schizophrenia were female, and 48% were male.
- The average onset of schizophrenia tends to be in the late teens to early 20s for men and late 20s to early 30s for women.
- Three out of every 100 individuals may experience psychosis in their lifetime.
Schizophrenia can be a challenging condition to experience due to its severe symptoms and the disconnect from reality a person might experience during an episode. However, it is often manageable with support, and many people with schizophrenia live successful lives with healthy relationships and careers.
Elyn Saks, Distinguished Professor of Law, Professor of Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the USC Gould School of Law, lives with schizophrenia and advocates for understanding and destigmatizing the disorder. She has published five books and won various honor awards for her work advocating for ethical and effective treatment for people with severe mental illnesses. She can be seen as living proof that people with schizophrenia can live healthy lives, have support systems, and receive treatment.
Support options for schizophrenia
Support options for schizophrenia are often effective, especially when used in tandem. Below are three options to discuss with your primary care provider.
Medication
In some cases, a psychiatrist or other medical doctor may prescribe antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia symptoms. When used properly, these medications may reduce the frequency or severity of symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, which may help individuals with schizophrenia ground themselves in daily life. Each person is different, so talk to your doctor about the medications that may work for you.
Always consult a medical doctor before starting, changing, or stopping a medication for any condition. The information in this article is not a replacement for medical advice or a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Long-term mental health care
In some cases, people with schizophrenia may benefit from long-term care in a facility like a mental health hospital, group home, or rehabilitation center. In these facilities, clients can receive around-the-clock support from a team of doctors, therapists, and other professionals.
Short-term inpatient care may be used when someone is experiencing a brief episode of psychosis. However, for longer episodes of psychosis or schizophrenia with severe comorbidities, long-term care may be beneficial.
Before choosing a facility, consider the location’s ethics and client care policies. Look for an empathetic environment that is against harmful procedures like unnecessary restraints. Mental Health America (MHA) reports that seclusion and restraint can re-traumatize individuals, do not have a therapeutic purpose in treating schizophrenia or any mental health conditions, and do not help clients better manage the thoughts and emotions that might harm themselves or others.
Therapy
Mental health therapy can be another valuable option for people with schizophrenia, especially those in the prodromal or residual phases, as they may be more responsive to techniques for change. Therapy alongside medication can be a way to manage challenging symptoms in daily life. However, for some people, it might be difficult to find in-person services that are accessible and cost-effective.
Online therapy for mental illness
In these situations, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be helpful. With an online platform, clients can talk to their therapist via phone, video, or live chat sessions and choose a time of day that works best for them, including outside of standard business hours. In addition, online platforms are often more cost-effective than face-to-face therapy.
Studies show that online therapy for first-episode psychosis may be beneficial, although more studies may be valuable when looking at whether internet therapy would benefit people with schizophrenia specifically. In addition, a growing body of research shows that online therapy can effectively treat the comorbidities of schizophrenia. For example, a 2017 analysis looked at data from 373 studies of internet-based treatment, which was found to effectively treat symptoms of OCD, anxiety, and depression.
Takeaway
How common is schizophrenia?
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that the prevalence in the U.S. ranges from 0.25% to 0.64%, based on studies that use surveys, diagnostic interviews, and medical records.
According to the World Health Organization, schizophrenia affects about one in 300 people, or about 0.32% of people worldwide, but it estimates that about 50% of people who are patients in the mental health system have a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Is schizophrenia considered a rare mental illness?
Yes, schizophrenia is considered a rare mental illness, affecting only 1% of the U.S. population. That said, it is one of the top 15 leading causes of disability worldwide.
What is the rarest mental health disorder?
Some of the rarest mental health disorders are as follows:
- Clerambault syndrome: In this subtype of delusional disorder, the affected person believes another person, generally of a higher socio-economic status, is in love with them despite never having met them. The exact prevalence is unknown, but it is believed to affect 0.1% of the people.
- Factitious disorder imposed on self: Formerly known as Munchausen syndrome, this disorder causes people to assume the role of a sick patient, producing symptoms that don’t exist, with the intention of external gain, such as attention, time away from work, or care from others. It’s difficult to determine how many people have this condition, but some experts estimate it affects less than 1% of patients.
- Capgras syndrome: Research shows that this condition affects less than 1% of the population, though the prevalence is higher in people with psychiatric conditions, particularly those with schizophreniform disorder, brief psychosis, and other psychotic symptoms. Someone with Capgras syndrome believes a family member or someone close to them has been replaced with an exact double.
Can a person live a normal life with schizophrenia?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, people with schizophrenia can have healthy relationships, pursue their goals, and become productive members of society. People with schizophrenia require life-long treatment, and the earlier pharmacological and psychological treatments begin, the more likely they are to recover and improve their quality of life.
What are the odds of getting schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is rare. The Global Burden of Disease survey estimated that it has a prevalence of about 0.28%. However, some factors can put one at higher risk.
- Genetics. Experts believe that schizophrenia may be caused by a combination of genes rather than a single gene. People who have close family members with schizophrenia are six times more likely to develop it than the general population.
- Environment. Factors like autoimmune disease, exposure to infectious diseases or malnutrition before birth, childhood trauma, early life stress, and living in an urban environment can all contribute to schizophrenia risk.
- Substance use. Research suggests that taking mind-altering drugs at a younger age, including smoking marijuana, can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders in early adulthood or later in life.
How does schizophrenia start?
According to the National Institute of Health, symptoms of the early stages of schizophrenia typically begin in the late teens or early adulthood. However, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses rarely appear out of the blue. Some warning signs of mental illness may include the following:
- Dramatic sleep or appetite changes
- Mood shifts
- Social withdrawal
- Cognitive impairment
- Disorganized thinking
- Unusual or dramatic beliefs
- Magical thinking
- Fear or suspicion of others
How to avoid schizophrenia?
Experts are not sure exactly what causes schizophrenia, so there is no known way to prevent it. That said, the earlier symptoms are detected, the earlier someone can make appropriate treatment decisions, which can help improve quality of life.
Symptoms of schizophrenia are described as positive or negative. Positive symptoms are things that are unusually present, like visual hallucinations, hearing voices, or disorganized speech. Negative symptoms are things that are unusually absent, like flat facial expressions or reduced expression of emotions.
People with schizophrenia may also experience cognitive symptoms. They may have problems with memory or have a steady decline in logical thinking. Personal relationships and their ability to function at work or school can be significantly affected.
Early treatment can help people with this mental health condition learn to manage their symptoms and may help them avoid some of the complications of the disease.
For example, some people with schizophrenia may experience major depression when they realize how their lives will be affected by the disease. Some research has found that people with schizophrenia die by suicide at a rate that is 4.5 times higher than the general population.
They are more at risk for developing substance misuse problems and more likely to smoke than people without the condition, and people with schizophrenia who drink and smoke are less likely to follow their treatment plan.
People with schizophrenia are also prone to developing certain medical illnesses and co-occurring medical conditions, like heart disease, hepatitis, diabetes, COPD, and chronic pain. They also have excess early mortality; schizophrenia research has found that people with this condition are two to three times more likely to die early than the general population.
How to tell if a person is schizophrenic?
In the early stages, recognizing signs of schizophrenia can be particularly challenging. Per the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the average age of onset for schizophrenia in men is between the late teens and early 20; for women, it’s the late 20s to early 30s. Some symptoms can appear earlier, but these may not be easily identified as symptoms of schizophrenia.
While symptoms may become more apparent over time, it can also be difficult to distinguish symptoms of schizophrenia from other mental health conditions before the first psychotic episode, particularly those that mimic schizophrenia, like schizoaffective disorder, a bipolar disorder mood episode, or another psychotic illness.
Only qualified mental health professionals can diagnose someone with a mental illness. That said, you may notice some symptoms in people who have schizophrenia. They may see or hear things that don’t exist, exhibit disorganized speech and thoughts, have difficulty expressing emotions, and have a reduced ability to show emotions. Occupational functioning can also be impaired, so they may be unable to perform daily tasks, like feeding themselves or caring for their personal hygiene.
Can you fully recover from schizophrenia?
While there is no cure for schizophrenia, it can be manageable with early and effective treatment. In one schizophrenia study that looked at the effects of treatment after first-episode schizophrenia, 70% of patients achieved symptom remission. Over half achieved what researchers called functional remission, which includes things like personal hygiene and interpersonal relationships. However, only 29% met the full criteria for recovery.
Treatment to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia generally includes medication and psychotherapy, typically cognitive behavioral therapy. Supported employment services can help people with this condition find and keep a job.
Who is most prone to schizophrenia?
People who have a family history of schizophrenia have an eight to eleven-fold increase in risk of developing the condition.
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