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"Prior to onset, my father had been a very loving and caring parent. By the time he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, I was receiving calls and letters that were openly delusional and references to the government and a conspiracy that involved my family and things like that. "

The World Health Organization has identified Schizophrenia as one of the ten most debilitating diseases affecting human beings.

Schizophrenia is a devastating brain disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults, or 1.1 percent of the population age 18 and older. Schizophrenia interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others.

Another serious thought disorder is Schizoaffective Disorder. The symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder look like a mixture of two kinds of major mental illnesses - mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder) and schizophrenia.

While there is no cure for Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder, they are highly treatable and manageable illnesses. However, people may stop treatment because of medication side effects, disorganized thinking, or because they feel the medication is no longer working.

Stigma is another major problem facing both the sufferer and family members. Those involved with schizophrenia are concerned about the dozens of misconceptions about the illness. Many believe that people with schizophrenia are violent and dangerous, which is not true. One parent stated that he was often accused of abandoning his daughter when he took her to the hospital. Another parent said that clerks in stores ignored her son when he asked for help or tried to make a purchase. Some religious groups hold the view that the illness is one of God's punishments.

If you think you or a family member have a thought disorder, you should seek information and treatment. At HealthyPlace.com, we believe that the more you understand about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder and issues like antipsychotic medications, the more likely you are to get the full benefit of treatment. We want to help you learn as much as you can about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder and to offer you support in your or your loved one's recovery.

Any Ideas on this Disorder?
VictoriaBlonde wrote: "

I'm new to Healthy Place but it seems really helpful and I'm hoping someone out there can shed some light on my partner's illness. He is a very intelligent man in his fifties who for the past 3 years has been convinced he has parasites (and now beetles) coming out of his body. He hasn't worked for 5 years and spends nearly all his time either studying bits of bark or fruit through a microscope in the belief they will morph into beetles, or vacuuming himself to get rid of larvae.  Continued here.

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Schizoaffective Disorder: Mental Illness - Information for Families

Divided Minds: Twin Sisters and Their Journey Through Schizophrenia

For many, the idea of being one of identical twins--and possibly the possessor of telepathic communicative powers--sends chills up the spine. Add certifiable schizophrenia to the potent emotional state of identical twinship, and the potential for nightmare magnifies. In their disturbingly powerful memoir, however, the Spiro sisters reveal all this as the stuff of their everyday reality. Explosive encounters with one another, other family members, friends, and medical professionals are recounted with jarring straightforwardness.

Buy the book. Other books on Thought Disorders.

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