features of schizophrenia

• onset?

  typically late teens- mid 30s. peak onset: early/mid twenties in males, late twenties in females. episodes are gradual and aren't obvious at first.

  • could be triggered by social or biological aspect of development during years or onset.
• prevalence? (how common a disorder is)

  likelihood is between 0.7%=1%, which is influenced by racial or ethnic background, country of residence, country of birth.

  • people who experience social difficulties like poverty and unemployment are more likely to develop schiz (individual differences)
• prognosis? (likely course)

  25% people recover and don't have another episode, 50% have recurrent episodes (symptoms free between episodes), 25% experience symptoms with no breaks.

  • average life expectancy= 10 years less than overall population average.
  • males show longer duration and higher proportion of negative symptoms than women.