Schizophrenia is a complex disorder characterized by a constellation of distinctive and predictable symptoms that are most commonly associated with the disease. It is one of the most disabling and emotionally devastating illnesses known to man. schizophrenia is not a spilt personality, a rare and very different disorder. Like cancer and diabetes, schizophrenia has a biological basis; it is not caused by bad parenting or personal weakness. Itis a relatively common disease with an estimated one percent to one and a half percent of the US population being diagnosed with it over the course of their lives. while there is no known cure for it, it is a very treatable disease. Most of those afflicted by it respond to drug therapy, and many are able to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Researchers usually describe the basic neuro-integrative deflect in terms of laboratory findings on cognitive tasks, but also a subjective experience. Schizophrenia usually begins by the individual having a “psychotic episode” (serious onset of symptoms) The symptoms are divided into two main categories, positive and negative. positive does not mean good but rather indicates an excess of normal functions. the positive symptoms include : Delusions(a phenomenon that the persons culture would regard as totally implausible), and hallucinations(a sensory perception that has the compelling sense of reality of true perception but occurs without external stimulation of the relevant sensory organ.) The person may also “slip off track” form the one topic to another in a way that makes no sense(derailment). They may make up strange words, or use words in ways that make no sense(called word salad). The person may also have bizarre or disorganized behaviors. Examples include difficulty performing simple activities of daily living, wearing multiple raincoats on clear hot days, or having trouble with hygiene. The negative symptoms reflect a reduction in normal functioning. they include: Alogia, Affective Flattening, Anhedeonia(lack of pleasure), Apathy (not interested in anything) and difficulty in paying attention to anything. They may also demonstrate catatonic like behavior. Others tend to view people with schizophrenia as very odd or crazy. These consumers are viewed as being different, and often somewhat scary and unpredictable. Since people with schizophrenia can be agitated or confused in stressful or over stimulated situations, they can appear threatening or violent. However, most research indicates that these consumers pose little risk of assault. People with schizophrenia tend to have a great deal of trouble with interpersonal relationships. People with more severe or chronic schizophrenia tend to have few friends; they often have never had a serious or romantic relationship. Since the symptoms of schizophrenia tend to be frightening, painful and difficult for family members, over time the consumer may become cut-off, or distanced from their parents and siblings. People with chronic schizophrenia may live alone, and are at risk for homelessness. If left untreated the condition of the individual may be in danger or homelessness incarceration episodes of violence, ictimization, or even suicide People with untreated psychiatric illnesses comprise one-third, or 200,000 people, of the approximately 600,000 homeless population. The quality of life for these individuals is abysmal. Many are victimized regularly. A recent study has found that 28 percent of homeless people with previous psychiatric hospitalizations obtained some food from garbage cans and eight percent used garbage cans as a primary food source. People with untreated serious brain disorders comprise approximately 10 percent of the 1.7 million jail and prison population, or 170,000 people. These individuals are often incarcerated with misdemeanor charges, but sometimes with felony charges, caused by their psychotic thinking. People with untreated psychiatric illnesses spend twice as much time in