Prognosis Of Schizophrenia: What Is The Outlook For People With This Disorder?

If you’ve heard of schizophrenia, you may have heard that once you’ve been diagnosed with it, there’s no going back to your old life. Maybe you’ve even heard that schizophrenia is “untreatable.” However, these narratives don’t tell the full story. 

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can cause symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. These symptoms can be challenging, but they can often be managed. With the right treatment, some people may even fully recover from them. Read on to learn more about schizophrenia, its symptoms, prognosis, treatment options, and more. 

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can change people’s thoughts, moods, and behaviors. It generally falls into the category of “severe mental disorders,” which also includes conditions like depression and bipolar disorder.

We still don’t know exactly what causes it, but certain factors may raise people’s risk of developing schizophrenia. Genetics tend to be one of the biggest, but other risk factors may also be involved, such as those listed below:

• Health issues during the mother’s pregnancy
• A low birth weight
• Living in an urban environment
• Using certain substances, especially at a young age

Schizophrenia usually has a chronic course. This means it's an illness that typically lasts a long time, and people usually need lifelong treatment to keep their symptoms in check. That said, not everyone at risk of schizophrenia will go on to develop it. In fact, it is thought to be a fairly rare disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it normally occurs at a rate of less than 1% worldwide. 

Understanding the symptoms of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia symptoms are often given labels like “positive” and “negative.” Despite the names, these labels don’t necessarily mean “good” and “bad.” Instead, they can describe thoughts and behaviors that are either present or absent in people with schizophrenia. 

Positive symptoms can be thought of as thoughts and behaviors that are added to people’s experiences. Some examples include the following:

• Hallucinations: Hallucinations are generally when you see, hear, or feel something that isn’t there.
• Delusions: Delusions can be defined as false beliefs that cannot be changed with facts or logic.
• Disorganized thought and speech: These can be seen as ways of thinking and talking that don’t make sense or are hard for others to follow. 

Negative symptoms can be thought of as the opposite of positive symptoms. They are typically thoughts and behaviors that are taken away from people’s experiences. Some examples include those listed below:

• Not being interested in socializing
• Struggling to feel pleasure
• Not expressing emotions
• Lacking the motivation to do daily tasks, like bathing or going to work

When a person with schizophrenia loses track of what’s real and what’s not, this is usually called “psychosis.” Schizophrenia patients may go through multiple episodes of psychosis during their lives. When not in psychosis, they may still have symptoms like low mood and motivation. These are sometimes called “residual symptoms.” (Although “residual schizophrenia” used to be the official term for this, it’s been dropped from the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.)

What is the long-term prognosis for schizophrenia?

There’s a common myth that people with schizophrenia can’t live fulfilling lives after their diagnoses. This may be because there is currently no known cure for the disorder. That said, many treatments may be available to help people with schizophrenia improve their symptoms, have healthy relationships, and live independently. These can include the following:

• Antipsychotic medications for managing symptoms
• Therapy for improving mental health
• Community support to help people function in daily life
• Government programs for housing, employment, and healthcare

Recent research shows that the outlook for people with schizophrenia is often promising. In a 2022 study, researchers analyzed 14 studies of 1,991 patients with schizophrenia. They found that of the individuals studied, 24.2% recovered, 35.5% had outcomes that were “good or better,” and 59.7% had outcomes that were “moderate or better.”

According to the World Health Organization, with proper treatment, at least one in three people with schizophrenia may make a full recovery from their symptoms. 

Improving your prognosis with schizophrenia

Ultimately, the prognosis of schizophrenia can vary. Everyone is different, and there may not be one single factor that decides the outcome. That said, if you have schizophrenia, the following strategies may be helpful.

Getting social support 

Support from friends and family may contribute to a positive prognosis. Having loved ones to lean on may make it easier to get to doctor’s appointments, follow your treatment plan, and handle any challenges that arise. For more specific support, consider joining a schizophrenia support group. This can be a way to connect with others, share coping strategies, and develop a sense of community. 

Taking your medication

If you’ve been prescribed medication, try to take it consistently and as directed by your doctor. This may help you manage your symptoms and play a role in relapse prevention. To make this easier, consider setting a daily alarm to remind you to take your medications. You can also try combining your medication with something you do every day, like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast.

Always consult your doctor or psychiatrist before starting, stopping, or changing the way you take medication. The information in this article is not a replacement for medical advice.

Managing stress

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, managing your stress levels when you have schizophrenia may help prevent future episodes. There can be various ways to keep your stress in check:

• Getting regular physical exercise
• Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or yoga
• Engaging in an enjoyable hobby
• Taking breaks from the news and social media
• Getting consistent, quality sleep

Taking steps like these may support your mental health and overall well-being. 

Avoiding mind-altering substances 

Alcohol and substances can negatively affect brain health. 

Some substances, like marijuana, may also trigger psychotic episodes. If you have schizophrenia, you may want to steer clear of these substances.

Considering therapy

People with schizophrenia may benefit from ongoing mental health support. Counseling can supplement medication by teaching coping strategies for managing symptoms and helping clients improve their social skills and relationships. Therapy may also be helpful for managing other mental illnesses that may occur alongside schizophrenia. 

Schizophrenia’s effects on motivation and desire to socialize can make it harder to leave the house for therapy appointments. Online therapy may be an alternative. Platforms like BetterHelp generally enable you to work with a therapist from the comfort of your home. This may be more manageable than in-person therapy if you’re living with schizophrenia. 

Studies have found that online therapy can effectively treat several mental health concerns. In 2017, researchers reviewed data from 373 studies of internet-based therapy. They found that online therapy could effectively treat depression and anxiety, which can both be common in people with schizophrenia. They found that online therapy could also be effective at treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, bipolar disorder, and more. 

Takeaway

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that can change the ways people think, act, and feel. It can cause symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, as well as changes in mood, motivation, and behavior. While there may not be a cure, treatments like online or in-person therapy and medication are often helpful. Research has found that with treatment, many people with schizophrenia see noticeable improvements in their symptoms. Some may even recover completely. Managing stress, avoiding substance use, taking medication as prescribed, and getting support may all improve outcomes for people with schizophrenia.