▲Actress, Megan Fox, spoke for the first time about her struggle with schizophrenia in 2009. At the time, she stated that she suffered from auditory hallucinations, paranoia and social dysfunction.

▲People suffering from schizophrenia behave inappropriately in social contexts and cannot differentiate reality from their own internal world.

▲The illness usually manifests in adolescence or early adulthood.

▲Schizophrenia affects 1 in 100 people with 40 new cases per 100,000 people arising per year.

▲Schizophrenia affects women and men equally.

▲The illness generally appears earlier in men, between 20 and 25 years of age.

▲On average, the illness appears between 25 and 30 years of age in women.

▲A patient will experience false ideas and beliefs and accept them as real. They may think they are being followed or observed by hidden cameras, neighbors or people they pass on the street. It is also common for them to feel that people around them are trying to hurt them.

▲The person may experience false perceptions, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren't really there.

▲Thoughts can become confusing, unorganized or disconnected, making the patient's speech difficult to understand.

▲Many patients are unable to react emotionally to situations, seeming indifferent and expressionless.

▲The patient loses their will to do anything, becoming unanimated and apathetic. It becomes harder for them to complete their daily tasks.

▲Concentrating is very difficult for people with schizophrenia.

▲Motor skills are also affected.

▲Being extremely suspicious of everyone and everything around them is another symptom of the illness.

▲Indifference, mood swings and social isolation are just a few more of the symptoms that can appear with schizophrenia.

▲No one knows for sure what causes schizophrenia. However, genetics has been found to play a role in whether or not a person will develop the illness.

▲This mental illness is a challenge for researchers because it is still unknown how schizophrenia is passed on genetically.

▲External factors that affect the developing nervous system of a fetus seem to have some influence in the manifestation of the disorder.

▲Some patients have been found to have altered brain chemistry or even physical abnormalities in certain regions of the brain.

▲Biochemical alterations of certain neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, seem to be related to the illness.

▲The treatment of schizophrenia involves addressing the symptoms of the disorder with medication, as well as reintegrating the patient into society through psychotherapy treatment.

▲A psychiatrist will prescribe anti-psychotic or neuroleptic medications.

▲Psychological treatment is necessary to reintegrate the patient into society and ensure that they have healthy relationships with friends and family.

▲Patients generally need psychotherapy, occupational therapy and other interventions to help them deal with the difficulties of daily life.

▲Family members are the most important allies to a person with schizophrenia. It's important that they are educated about the illness and understand the associated symptoms and attitudes in order to best support their loved one.

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It's important to be supportive, understanding and patient throughout treatment and even after. Hostile and critical attitudes or overprotective behavior will only harm the person.

▲Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects 1% of the population. Actress Megan Fox suffers from the illness and has spoken publicly about her experience, stating that it can be controlled with medication and therapy. Although no one knows exactly what causes the condition, the good news is that it can be treated with medication, psychotherapy and support from loved ones.

Learn more about this mental illness in the following gallery.

Schizophrenia: what you need to know about this mental illness

The disorder is characterized by visual and auditory hallucinations

6 hours ago por StarsInsider

HEALTH Health

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects 1% of the population. Actress Megan Fox suffers from the illness and has spoken publicly about her experience, stating that it can be controlled with medication and therapy. Although no one knows exactly what causes the condition, the good news is that it can be treated with medication, psychotherapy and support from loved ones.

Learn more about this mental illness in the following gallery.