Schizophrenia is a mental illness. A person with schizophrenia may not be able to
think clearly, or may not know the difference between what is real and what is not
real. They may have a hard time making decisions. They also may have trouble managing
their emotions or relating to other people. This can make it hard for people with
schizophrenia to function and interact socially.
Here are some things that people with schizophrenia may feel or experience. They may:
- Hear or see things that are not there (hallucinations)
- Believe things that are not true (delusions)
- Feel as if they are being watched (paranoia)
- Experience a negative change in self-care or personal appearance
- Feel angry or fearful toward others
- Act in ways that are strange or out of place
» Learn who is affected by schizophrenia.
What causes it?
Scientists don’t know for sure what causes schizophrenia. Research shows that chemical
imbalances in the brain may contribute to a person getting schizophrenia. Differences
in brain structure can also be a factor. Current medicines are designed to help
correct these imbalances and have been shown to be effective at improving symptoms
for many people.
How schizophrenia can impact your life
Schizophrenia can disrupt your life on many levels. It can cause problems at home
and at work. And it can make taking care of yourself difficult.
“When I got sick, I stopped going to school. I was scared to go because I thought
people could read my mind.”
—Justin†
Talk to your doctor about treatment options, including GEODON
If you or someone you care about has schizophrenia, talk to your doctor about treatment
options. Including different types of medicines and psychotherapy. GEODON is a medicine
used to treat schizophrenia. Learn more about
GEODON for schizophrenia.
|
* |
Dr. Suarez is a practicing psychiatrist. He did not treat the patients depicted on this Web site. Dr. Suarez received compensation from Pfizer, the makers of GEODON, for his contributions to this site. |
|
† |
Based on conversations with real patients. |
Next: Recognizing symptoms
When you click on a PDF document, it will open in a new window.
To view PDF files, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® must be installed on your computer. If you do not have this program, download it now for free.

Note: When you click on the link above, you will leave the GEODON.com Web site. Links to other sites are provided as a convenience to the viewer. Pfizer accepts no responsibility for the content of linked sites.