Hi Gladysk,

There are no studies, to the best of my knowledge, that show that the majority of individuals with Schizophrenia spontaneously recover. Tragically, the opposite is true.

In Oslo, Norway, they keep excellent computerized health records. They found that 94% of individuals with Schizophrenia in Oslo were disabled (and most were on disability pension). Likewise, they found that 47% of these individuals were socially isolated.

What research does show is that the first 5 years of untreated Schizophrenia are usually the hardest. Usually, after that, the delusions, hallucinations and depression slowly decrease. However, the "negative symptoms" of Schizophrenia slowly increase over time. Hence the individual with Schizophrenia slowly becomes more socially isolated and less active.

In contrast, early treatment with antipsychotic medication usually removes the delusions, hallucinations, and depression in a few weeks.

In Ireland, there was a famous study of individuals who had chronic untreated Schizophrenia. The majority of these untreated individuals were described as "mute" and "motionless". They literally sat all day and just stared at the wall.

In contrast, on antipsychotic medication, individuals with Schizophrenia can expect a "social recovery"; that is, they will have friends and enjoy a near-normal social life. Unfortunately, even with antipsychotic medication, the majority of individuals with Schizophrenia will not have a "vocational recovery"; that is, they will not be employed in competitive employment.

It often requires one or more hospitalizations before doctors find the best antipsychotic medication (+/- antidepressant medication) for an individual with Schizophrenia. Thus hospitalization is often the first step towards recovery.

I wish Schizophrenia had a better outcome, but Schizophrenia is now the 4th leading cause of disability (for ages 15-44 years old) in the western world.

Phil Long M.D.
Administrator