1. WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA?Schizophrenia* is a SERIOUS BUT TREATABLE brain condition that causes a person to experience SYMPTOMS of psychosis which can affect how you:

THINK FEEL ACT

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Being diagnosed with

SCHIZOPHRENIA means that there is an explanation for the symptoms you have been experiencing.* To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, an individual must experience more than one psychotic symptom during a one month period and continuous signs of disturbance for at least 6 months.1

Symptoms of schizophrenia typically come and go in cycles.

Worsening periods are known as relapse or a psychotic episode.

Symptoms can improve or disappear completely during recovery.

2. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA?

RECOVERY

Schizophrenia affects everyone DIFFERENTLY and everyone’s experience will be different.

+ Positive symptoms (something ADDED - hallucinations, delusions [false beliefs], disorganized thoughts and speech)- Negative symptoms (something MISSING - apathy [lack of feeling emotion, interest, and concern], reduced socializing, restricted facial expression, change in rate of speech)~ Cognitive symptoms (something CHANGED - difficulties with attention, concentration, memory, planning and organization)

It is DIFFICULT TO PREDICT how long symptoms will last.

Some people will

COMPLETELY RECOVER

from symptoms.

Others will get better, but their

SYMPTOMS MAYCOME BACK again in the future.

+

FEW SYMPTOMS

SOME PEOPLEhave a +

-

+~

MANY

While

OTHER PEOPLEhave

3. HOW LONG WILL SYMPTOMS LAST?

PREMORBID STABILIZATION

RELAPSE

CRITICAL PERIOD

SEARCH FOR EFFECTIVE SYMPTOM CONTROL

SYMPTOM CONTROL

4. HOW CAN I GET BETTER?It is important to get on the right MEDICATION EARLY as this is a cornerstone of treatment. Specific to your needs, NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL treatment options will also be a part of your care.

THE SOONER YOU GET HELP, THE BETTER THE CHANCES

ARE OF STAYING WELL.

It is critical to be on the correct

medication as soon as possible.

Continuous treatment is critical to getting well and preventing relapse.

With the right medication, symptoms of schizophrenia can be managed to prevent a negative impact on your life, allowing you to live the way you had before.

• During the first 2 to 5 years of your illness is when the biological, psychological, and psychosocial contributors to psychotic illnesses are most amenable to change2

• A longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) may be neurotoxic3 and is a strong predictor of poor clinical and social outcomes4,5

• Early functional and clinical status at 2 years is a very strong predictor of outcome at 15 years6, strongly suggesting that there may be a clinical period for effective treatment in the early years following onset7

5. WHAT DOES MY FUTURE LOOK LIKE WITH TREATMENT?• You can LIVE your life• You can accomplish your GOALS• With CONTINUOUS long-acting medication therapy you can:

• Achieve a STEADY blood level• REMOVE the WORRY of taking a pill everyday• FOCUS on other aspects of TREATMENT such as managing

stress, building positive personal relationships, and finding a job and appropriate housing

REFERENCES:1. Tandon R, Gaebel W, Barch DM, et al. Definition and description of schizophrenia in the DSM-5. Schizophr Res.

2013;150(1):3-10.2. Birchwood M, Todd P, Jackson C. Early intervention in psychosis. The critical period hypothesis. Br J Psychiatry.

Suppl 1998;172:53-59. 3. Weinberger DR. Genetic mechanisms of psychosis: in vivo and postmortem genomics. Clin Ther. 2005;27

(Suppl A):S8-S15. 4. Davidson L, McGlashan TH. The varied outcomes of schizophrenia. Can J Psychiatry. 1997;42:34-43. 5. Norman RM, Malla AK. Duration of untreated psychosis: a critical examination of the concept and its importance.

Psychol Med. 2001;31:381-400. 6. Harrison G, Hopper K, Craig T, et al. Recovery from psychotic illness: a 15- and 25-year international follow-up study.

Br J Psychiatry. 2001;178:506-517. 7. Lieberman JA, Koreen AR, Chakos M, et al. Factors influencing treatment response and outcome of first-episode

schizophrenia: implications for understanding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 1996;57 (Suppl 9):5-9.

R E C O V E R Y

Support for this tool was provided by Janssen Inc.