No group is risk-free when it comes to schizophrenia, but some people are
more likely than others to develop the disorder. The following statistics may
surprise you:
-Schizophrenia is more common than you might think. About 1 out of
100 people develop schizophrenia over the course of their lifetime.
Schizophrenia is twice as common as Alzheimer’s disease or HIV/AIDS,
five times as common as multiple sclerosis, and six times as common as
Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Although new cases of schizophrenia are somewhat rare, the number
of individuals with the disorder remains relatively high because
schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that often lasts for an extended
period of time.
- Schizophrenia affects both sexes equally and is found among people
of all races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups around the world.
- Although schizophrenia is more likely to affect people between the
ages of 17 and 35 (the onset tends to be earlier in men than in
women), it can begin in children as young as age 5 or have a late
onset in a person’s 50s, 60s, or 70s.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is extremely rare, affecting about 1 in
40,000 children. Only 1 in 100 adults now diagnosed with the disorder
had symptoms before the age of 13. Because the disorder tends to
surface more gradually in children, it often goes unnoticed.
An earlier onset is often indicative of poorer outcomes because the
disorder can interfere with education, development, and social
functioning. On the other hand, early recognition can help improve
outcomes and minimize disability.
