John Hinckley, Jr: 1955 – Present
John Hinckley Jr. was the man who attempted to assassinate U.S. President Ronal Reagan in 1981, making him one of the most notorious famous people with schizophrenia. Hinckley Jr.
Individual History: Vincent van Gogh was a famous artist with schizophrenia. Among the most famous schizophrenic people is world renowned artist Vincent van Gogh.
Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of late President Abraham Lincoln – She was born on December 13, 1818 in Lexington, Kentucky. She suffered from Bipolar Disorder (a type of Schizoaffective Disorder). She had frequent headaches, presumably migraines. She suffered severe depression, anxiety and paranoia.
Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed in the late teens years to early thirties, and tends to emerge earlier in males (late adolescence – early twenties) than females (early twenties – early thirties). More subtle changes in cognition and social relationships may precede the actual diagnosis, often by years.
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people (0.32%) worldwide. This rate is 1 in 222 people (0.45%) among adults (2). It is not as common as many other mental disorders.
A Beautiful Mind is a movie based on the life of mathematician John Nash and his battle with schizophrenia. Nash developed the first symptoms of schizophrenia in the 1950s.
People with schizophrenia generally live about 15 to 20 years less than those without the condition. Schizophrenia is a complex disease. There are many ways it can result in serious complications.
Background: Schizophrenia patients are typically found to have low IQ both pre- and post-onset, in comparison to the general population. However, a subgroup of patients displays above average IQ pre-onset. The nature of these patients' illness and its relationship to typical schizophrenia is not well understood.
However, with consistent treatment—a combination of medication, therapy, and social support—people with schizophrenia can manage the disease and lead fulfilling lives.
Most people with schizophrenia make a recovery, although many will experience the occasional return of symptoms (relapses). Support and treatment can help you to manage your condition and the impact it has on your life.
Murray (2006) suggested 'dopamine dysregulation disorder' as a replacement for schizophrenia. Henderson and Malhi (2014) proposed 'psychotic spectrum disorder' to introduce a less stigmatised term.
Catatonic schizophrenia
This is the rarest schizophrenia diagnosis, characterised by unusual, limited and sudden movements.
The psychopathology Arthur exhibits is unclear, preventing diagnosis of psychotic disorder or schizophrenia; the unusual combination of symptoms suggests a complex mix of features of certain personality traits, namely psychopathy and narcissism (he meets DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder).
The Brain In Schizophrenia
The fluid-filled spaces (the ventricles) in the interior of the temporal lobes are often enlarged and the temporal lobe tissue diminished. The greater the observed changes the greater the severity of the person's thought disorder and his or her auditory hallucinations.
While men and women have similar prevalence of Schizophrenia, most of studies demonstrated that female onset is typically 3–5 years later than males.
Although schizophrenia can occur at any age, the average age of onset tends to be in the late teens to the early 20s for men, and the late 20s to early 30s for women. It is uncommon for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40. It is possible to live well with schizophrenia.
In most people with schizophrenia, symptoms generally start in the mid- to late 20s, though it can start later, up to the mid-30s. Schizophrenia is considered early onset when it starts before the age of 18. Onset of schizophrenia in children younger than age 13 is extremely rare.
Doctors don't think there's just one “schizophrenia gene.” Instead, they think it takes many genetic changes, or mutations, to raise your chances of having the mental illness. You're more likely to get schizophrenia if someone in your family has it.
Drug and alcohol use
If you already have schizophrenia, research shows that using recreational drugs may worsen your symptoms. Some studies suggest that people who use high-potency cannabis ('skunk') when in recovery are more likely to have a relapse too.
Some experts believe that sensitivity to wheat can be a factor in mental health conditions like schizophrenia. One study suggests some people with schizophrenia had their condition improve when they switched to a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains.
If left untreated, schizophrenia rarely gets better on its own. Symptoms of schizophrenia more frequently increase in intensity without treatment and may even lead to the onset of additional mental issues, including: Depression.