Schizophrenia usually occurs for the first time in your early teens and 20s. Men and women are equally affected, although young men tend to develop the illness earlier. Many people think incorrectly that schizophrenia means a 'split personality'. In fact, schizophrenia can affect any aspect of how you think, feel, speak and behave so that you lose touch with reality. It's important to remember that if you have the condition, you probably will recover. You may continue to have problems that can limit your return to work and cause problems in forming relationships, but you're likely to be able to learn to cope with these difficulties. If you have schizophrenia, your family, friends and carers can be very important in helping you cope with and treat your illness in the long term.
Attribution: BUPA