A couple of years ago I did not have a clue what word “schizophrenia” meant, but two years ago a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with it. In a short period of time Olga transformed from a well known person to a stranger. Her actions and

a) Prodromal phase – schizophrenia symptoms, particularly positive symptoms, are not yet obvious, but the individual’s ability to functions normally is beginning to deteriorate. At this stage a person may withdraw socially, speak in odd ways, develop strange ideas, and show less emotion.

c) Residue phase – in this phase a person returns to prodromal phase like functioning, active phase symptoms lessen, but some negative systems remain.

Schizophrenia usually first appears in the late teens and mid thirties. Even though the course of schizophrenia varies greatly from case to case, many sufferers seem to go through three phases:

Schizophrenia is a disorder in which personal, social and occupational functioning deteriorates as a result of disturbed though process. The symptoms, triggers, course and response to treatment vary greatly. Approximately one of every hundred people in the world suffers from schizophrenia during his or her lifetime. An estimated two in a half million with this disorder are currently living in United States. (Barbour, S., 2002) The financial cost estimated `at more than $100 billion annually, including the costs of hospitalization, lost wages, and disability benefits. The emotional cost is even greater. (Barbour, S., 2002) In addition sufferers have an increased risk of suicide and of physical often fatal illness. Approximately fifteen percent of people with the disorder commit suicide. (Barbour, S., 2002)

behaviors became unfamiliar to people she knew. No body knew what was happening, but soon Tony informed us that Olga suffers of schizophrenia.

Psychologists categorize the symptoms of schizophrenia into three major groups. Positive systems include delusion, certain formal thought disorder, hallucinations and other disturbances in perception and attention and inappropriate affect.

b) Active phase – schizophrenic symptoms become apparent. Sometimes stress in a person’s life triggers schizophrenic symptoms. Negative symptoms are present during this phase, which include: poverty of speech, blunted and flat affect, loss of volition and social withdrawal.

3) A withdrawal from reality enjoyable (Comer, R. J., 2001)

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