Can schizophrenia progress?

Question

i know somone who is schizophrenic however it's not that bad.he's only 15 so i'm wondering if it can get worse as he gets older or if its as bad as it will be

Answer 1

yes, it can get worse but there are medications available to help control it if he gets the help he needs now.

Answer 2

It can get worse, however, modern medication lowers those chances. One of the biggest concerns, at least traditionally, has been degeneration of certain parts of the brain. However, i believe that anti-psychotic medication helps protect against that.

Now in terms of getting steadily worse, it is hard to say. On the one hand, he is pretty young, so a lot can happen. However, it appears to have been caught early, so he might actually might be in a better position. If they got him on medication right as the symptoms appeared, his prognosis might be pretty good. It really depends on how bad it was before he received medication and how long he had it.  From what i have read, it is more likely that you will see improvement over time, with treatment, than a steady deterioration of his condition. Odds are you aren't looking at a full recovery but the possibility of decades with only minor problems is somewhat more likely. As long as he keeps taking his medication and goes to therapy, he should probably prevent it from getting worse and may have a small chance of recovery.

However, only time will tell. Schizophrenia is a tricky disorder and can go in many different directions. One thing you can do is help create a strong network of support for him, which is actually one key factor in a person's ability to deal with the symptoms.

Answer 3

Any health issue, be it physical or be it mental, will get worse and be harder to treat and recover from.  Chances are that an illness or disorder will worsen.

It is good that you are showing concern for your friend.

However, has you friend been actually diagnosed with this disorder by a trained professional?  Or, did they just read about it or talked to someone else and thought that this is what they think that they have?

While it is good to be in touch  with one's mind and body, only a professional mental health person can diagnose and provide the proper treatment for such a person.  Mental health, especially serious mental health problems such as schizophrenia, is not something that should be left to untrained people.

Continue being there for your friend.  Express how much you like them and understand them.  This will always go a long way.

Your friend should not do what I did.  I let little problems go unchecked.  Getting over self-denial and unwillingness to stick with a treatment plan allowed me to get the help I needed.  I am now enjoying life more.

I wish you the best.  God bless you both.  Go with the grace of God.