Incidence: 1% of the population, approximately 800,000 people in Germany, develop schizophrenia at least one point in their lives. The first episode occurs mostly between the ages of 18 and 35. The disorder is chronic in manay patients and often leads to disability and stigmatization. Schizophrenia belongs to the ten illnesses most frequently leading to disablity.10-15% of patients die due to suicide.

First signs: Approximately 75 % of people affected with the disorder experience experiential changes and show distinctive behavioral features even years before the manifestation of the illness. These features are still not recognized today as being a prodrome of schizophrenia or are mistaken for temporary crises, neurotic conflict reactions or other psychological forms of illness. The later appropriate therapy begins, the more unfavorable the course of the illness is. 

Up to now, the cause of the illness has still not been satisfactorily explained. It has been demonstrated that a genetic disposition contributes to the illness, in which several genes – that have not yet been identified - play a part.  A pre- or perinatal-acquired biological disposition which leads to the manifestation of the illness in interaction with bio-psychosocial factors has also been speculated

Symptoms: The typical features of schizophrenia inculde not only so-called "positive" symptoms such as delusions, and halluzinations, but also so-called "negative" symptoms such as lack of initiative and loss of interest.

    
Course and treatment

Course: Schizophrenia mostly has several episodes and tends to become chronic. Two thirds of patients have episodes on several occasions, for many, lasting impairments result, which are often accompanied by social withdrawal.

Treatment: Available pharmacological and psychosocial therapy options for acute and long term treatment enable the remission of symptoms and the prevention of relapse in approximately 70 % of cases. A multitude of factors however restrict treatment options (non-compliance, non-response, side-effects). The predictability of the response to therapy and the differential indications - for the various therapeutic measures have not been sufficiently developed.    

Care of patients: The psychiatric care service is on the whole equipped in the interest of schizophrenia patients, however, cooperation and coordination between the services are often inadequate and specialized rehabilitation facilities are lacking.

     
Personal and social significance

Burden: Despite the available, but partly inadequately used and differentiated therapy options, the illness is still a heavy burden for patients, relatives and society. Over 50 % of relatives are also psychologically burdened or have a psychiatric illness. Chronification of symptoms, social disability and stigmatization are also experienced today by many patients.

Around 10-15% of patients commit suicide within the first 10 years after the onset of the illness.
Schizophrenia belongs to the 10 illnesses with the largest share of loss to life due to disability.  Even when receiving optimal therapy, already at a young age about 250,000 patients are incapable of working due to the illness, and as a result reliant on public support.

Cost: Schizophrenia is the most expensive psychiatric illness. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the annual costs for the Health and Welfare service are estimated to be 4-9 Billion EUR.
The direct and indirect costs are comparable to somatic illnesses like diabetes, and heart disease.