Schizophrenia first break

The first break of schizophrenia usually occurs in the late teens or twenties. This is one of the most heartbreaking aspects of the disease. It so often strikes down bright young people just as they are entering adulthood. This age range, however, is not as fixed as we once believed it to be. Schizophrenia may begin as early as childhood or as late as the 60s or 70s. 

Leading up to the first break, most individuals with schizophrenia go through a prodromal phase of illness. This prodrome is a departure from the patient s usual behavior, but patients seldom seek treatment during this phase. The prodromal symptoms are usually limited to negative symptoms of apathy or social isolation or to lesser variants of the positive symptoms taking the form of eccentric beliefs or a... 

Grinspoon smdied 41 patients in Massachusetts with first-break acute schizophrenia (Grinspoon, 1977) six (15%) had a history of cannabis use. Upon close examination, he found that in four... 

It is estimated that approximately 80% of individuals suffering their first schizophrenic break will have recurrent episodes and significant lifetime psychosocial dysfunction. In 1994, the direct cost of treating schizophrenia in the United States was estimated to be 45 billion. " The public mental health care sector provides the majority of services for individuals with schizophrenia. Mental health care costs... 

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