Schizophrenia is and has always been a subject of controversy. From whether it is a singular disease or a spectrum of ‘schizophrenias’ to the appropriate way to manage these patients and even to some, its very existence.
What can be agreed on is that it can be a highly disabling condition, carrying significant morbidity and mortality. Its symptoms and course can be hugely distressing to both the patient and their family, and the economic loss is vast.
The course of schizophrenia is widely variable and the believed prognosis varies from study to study but most seem to be not far off the rule of thirds where roughly a third make a complete or near complete remission, a third have a recurrent, intermittent course and a third have a chronic course of gradually worsening symptoms.