Schizophrenia causes a high degree of disability, affecting the health and well-being of those living with the illness, caregivers, relatives, neighbours, and others in their daily lives.1,2 People living with schizophrenia often experience challenges across several connected areas of life1,3
The humanistic burden of schizophrenia involves several dimensions of life. Most of these dimensions overlap, and all are linked.1 For example, schizophrenia’s positive and negative symptoms, along with cognitive impairment, and physical and mental comorbidities, can directly impair quality of life and contribute to occupational difficulties, unemployment, and social isolation, which also contribute to diminished quality of life.1,3
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Continuous maintenance therapy is associated with a lower risk of relapse than intermittent treatment, supporting ongoing treatment strategies in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
Treatment response tends to be higher during a first episode than during subsequent episodes, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and effective management.
Negative symptoms are a core feature of schizophrenia and can have a profound impact on functioning, social relationships, and quality of life.