Schizophrenia is a mental sickness which if treated properly would allow a person to live an active, productive, and by and large a socially acceptable life. As is understood in public, schizophrenia is neither a split personality disorder nor is it a multiple personality disorder and a vast majority of the patients are nonviolent. No permanent cure exists for schizophrenia, nor the cause is known.

However, there is considerable understanding as to what happens in their brain and their behavior. Their main problem is not being able to identify and separate reality from their perception of it. Their brain, in some ways, distorts their thinking, actions, emotional expressions, and the way they relate to others and this makes them some sort of misfits in the society. It is one of the most chronic and disabling of all mental disorders. Researchers believe that this behavior is caused by an imbalance of dopamine, glutamate and serotonin. All three are neurotransmitters that help the neurons to communicate between themselves. This imbalance can cause changes in the way one reacts to stimuli like loud sound, bright light, etc. These may overwhelm these people while normal persons take it in their stride. Present day treatments are based on this understanding.

Modern researchers believe that it is not a single cause but a confluence of a few such as heredity, as it runs in families, and shows a tendency to develop when the body is undergoing hormonal changes during puberty and in young adults or after very severe stress. The third suspected cause is the faulty development of connection and pathways during fetal development. Children born to mothers who had suffered viral infections like flu during gestation or people hospitalized for severe infections run a higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

Some of the early signs of schizophrenia are hearing or seeing something not there. These include peculiar or nonsensical speaking, writing, the constant feeling of being watched, change in personal hygiene, appearance and personality, withdrawal from social situations, strange body positioning, irrational, angry, fearful responses to loved ones, inappropriate and bizarre behavior, and extreme preoccupation with religion or occult etc.

The crux of being able to live an active, productive, socially adjusted, near normal life is early detection and appropriate treatment, counseling and proper rehabilitation. Understanding and acceptance with persistent family support goes a long way in the well-being of a schizophrenic. Society should be kind and broad minded so as to not ostracize them.