Conditions and symptoms
What Is Schizophrenia? A Calm, Plain-English Explanation
Schizophrenia · say it: skit-soh-FREE-nee-uhAlso written: schizophrenic disorder, psychotic disorder
Short answer
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, perceives reality and behaves. It is treatable.
What it means
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition. It can cause psychosis, such as hearing or seeing things others do not (hallucinations) or holding strong beliefs that are not based in reality (delusions), along with muddled thinking, reduced motivation and withdrawing from others. It usually begins in late teens or early adulthood. With treatment and support, many people manage their symptoms and live full lives.
Schizophrenia appears on medicine labels mainly under 'Indications' for antipsychotic medicines. Labels then describe how the medicine is started and adjusted, and its warnings. Because some medicines are approved for several conditions, seeing schizophrenia on a label does not mean that is why it was prescribed for you.
Schizophrenia is not 'split personality' (dissociative identity disorder), which is a different condition. It is also different from bipolar disorder, which mainly involves mood episodes, though the two can share some symptoms.
Where you may see it
- The 'Indications' section of antipsychotic labels
- Psychiatry letters and care plans
- Hospital discharge summaries
📄 How it looks on a report
Indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not mean having a 'split personality'.
- Most people with schizophrenia are not violent.
- Seeing it on a label does not mean your doctor thinks you have it; many antipsychotics have several uses.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Schizophrenia”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Schizophrenia”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Olanzapine
An atypical antipsychotic, a prescription medicine used for certain mental health conditions
- Quetiapine
An atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Risperidone
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Schizophrenia” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “schizophrenia”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.