The 411 on Schizophrenia
How the disease affects African-Americans.
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Schizophrenia Can Take Lives - This past weekend, MasterChef runner-up Joshua Marks committed suicide in his Chicago home. While he suffered from bipolar disorder and depression, his mother believes that Marks’ recent schizophrenia diagnosis is to blame for her son’s death. Read more about this mental illness and how it affects African-Americans. —Kellee Terrell (Photo: Nico Stipcianos/Getty Images)
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What Is Schizophrenia? - Schizophrenia is an incurable brain disorder that can cause delusions, loss of personality, confusion, agitation, social withdrawal, psychosis and bizarre behavior, says Medical News Today. People suffering from this disease may also believe that they hear voices. (Photo: Nicholas Monu/Getty Images)
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How Common Is It? - Schizophrenia is rare — it affects only 1 percent of the general population. The disease can be genetic. It’s estimated that 10 percent of those with schizophrenia have a first-degree relative (sister, brother or parent) with the disease, too. (Photo: Photodisc/Getty Images)
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How Does Schizophrenia Affect the Brain? - While it’s unknown what exactly causes this illness, scientists do believe that the brains of those with schizophrenia actually look different than those who do not have it. Schizophrenia disrupts the brain chemistry, more specifically the cells that communicate with one another (neurotransmitters).(Photo: REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)
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Who Is at Risk? - Schizophrenia doesn’t discriminate — women and men are equally affected. But warning signs may occur in men earlier than women. Men usually start showing symptoms in their late teens and early 20s, while women usually show symptoms in their 20s and early 30s, according to the Mayo Clinic. (Photo: Andrea Morini/Getty Images)
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Are Blacks Overdiagnosed With the Disorder? - This illness is not just a white person’s problem — it’s ours, too. But a 2012 study found that Blacks are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than whites. Researchers believe that doctors may be biased when Black patients showed extreme symptoms when in fact their symptoms may actually be associated with another mental illness and not schizophrenia.(Photo: Siri Stafford/Getty Images)
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The Warning Signs - Symptoms of schizophrenia include: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, strange movements, lack of emotion on one’s face, difficulties keeping plans or socializing with others, neglect bathing and hygiene, trouble focusing and paying attention, problems with memory and difficulties understanding things and making decisions. (Photo: Andrew Parfenov/Getty Images)
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Why Treatment Is Crucial - The most common treatment is anti-psychotics, which come in pill or liquid form. While the meds may make people feel better quickly, some people ditch the meds thinking they are OK. But that really isn’t the case. Sticking with your meds is crucial in order to manage schizophrenia and live a functional life with less symptoms. (Photo: Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)
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Treatment Barriers - African-Americans face serious barriers to accessing mental health services. Poverty, lack of access to quality health care and cultural stigma all play a role in why Blacks are less likely to receive mental care compared to whites. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)