Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling psychiatric disorder that affects about 1 percent of all people. Although the symptoms of the disease - hallucinations, delusions, and phantom voices-can be very scary for both patients and loved ones, treatment is available and many people with the disorder now lead relatively mainstream lives. The symptoms associated with schizophrenia are divided into two categories: Positive Symptoms, which are those symptoms that schizophrenic patients demonstrably exhibit, and Negative Symptoms, which are the normal emotions and behaviors lacking in schizophrenics. Positive Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and bizarre behavior; Negative Symptoms include flat emotional responses, limited speech, loss of pleasure in life, and low energy. Many schizophrenics also suffer from substance abuse, which can exacerbate symptoms. And contrary to popular belief, people with schizophrenia are not especially prone to violence, preferring in fact, to be left alone. Positive symptoms like hallucinations or disorganized speech are the easiest to spot. These symptoms are rarely seen in healthy people, and usually involve a loss of contact with reality. These symptoms can come and go, and vary in severity depending on whether the individual is on medication. Negative Symptoms may be more difficult to detect-a person could be simply shy or introverted and not schizophrenic. Also, Negative symptoms, like flatness or lack of interest in life are not always easy to distinguish from depression. Treatments for schizophrenia focus on eliminating symptoms. Antipsychotic drugs are most effective in eliminating positive symptoms. There are numerous antipsychotics available, Thorazine and Haldol being the classic ones. Although often effective, these medications can have some serious side effects. Involuntary movement of the mouth and tongue, which can be irreversible, is one side effect feared with these drugs. Newer medications called "atypical anti-psychotics" like Clozaril and Zyprexa are also effective in treating the symptoms of schizophrenia, and do not typically have these motor side effects. Of course, they are not without their own problems. Zyprexa, for example, tends to produce serious weight gain and has been linked to the onset of diabetes and heart disease. Everyone responds differently to anti-psychotics, but agitation and hallucinations usually improve within days and delusions within a few weeks. Medication should be combined with psychosocial therapies to address the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. If you or a loved one shows signs of schizophrenia, contact a mental health professional to determine treatment. Want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.