EXAMINATIONS, marriage and bereavement can trigger schizophrenia, a condition from which a quarter of sufferers never recover, according to a new publication.
Stresses can prompt the condition in people predisposed to it, usually between the ages of 16 and 25, according to the "Information guide on Schizophrenia" published by Schizophrenia Ireland and launched yesterday by Dr Anthony Clare.
While a quarter of schizophrenics never recover, another quarter recover fully and permanently after just one or two episodes. The remaining 50 per cent have intermittent breakdowns but can live normally during the intervals.
Schizophrenia Ireland (formerly the Schizophrenia Association of Ireland) yesterday launched an awareness campaign on the illness to coincide with the birthday of James Joyce's daughter, Lucia, who was diagnosed as having the illness at a young age. Joyce described schizophrenia as "the most elusive illness known to man and unknown to medicine."
The aim of the campaign is to increase both awareness of the illness and compassion for those who suffer from it, according to Schizophrenia Ireland which says it hopes to reduce the level of isolation felt by people with schizophrenia."
The theme is "One in a Hundred" because the illness is estimated to affect 1 per cent of the population. However, the risk of a child developing schizophrenia rises to 10 per cent if one parent has it and to almost 50 per cent if both parents have it. If an identical twin has schizophrenia, the other twin has a 60 per cent chance of developing it. Since identical twins have identical genes, the cause cannot be entirely genetic if it was, the other twin would have exactly the same risk.
People with schizophrenia are very seldom dangerous, it says, and the idea that people with the illness have split personalities is a myth.
The comprehensive, detailed guide includes chapters on the law, entitlements, health care, living with schizophrenia, coping with a crisis and other topics as well as numerous addresses and telephone numbers. It costs £2.99.