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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Left untreated, schizophrenia can result in severe emotional, behavioral and health problems, as well as legal and financial problems that affect every area of life. Complications that schizophrenia may cause or be associated with include:

  • Suicide
  • Self-destructive behavior, such as self-injury
  • Depression
  • Abuse of alcohol, drugs or prescription medications
  • Poverty
  • Homelessness
  • Family conflicts
  • Inability to work or attend school
  • Health problems from antipsychotic medications
  • Being a victim or perpetrator of violent crime
  • Heart disease, often related to heavy smoking
References
  1. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  2. Minzenberg MJ, et al. Schizophrenia. In: Hales RE, et al. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/resourceToc.aspx?resourceID=5. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  3. Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-index.shtml. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  4. Fischer BA, et al. Schizophrenia: Clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  5. Jibson MD. Schizophrenia: Epidemiology and pathogenesis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  6. Stroup TS, et al. Pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia: Acute and maintenance phase treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  7. Aripiprazole. U.S. National Library of Medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000221/. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  8. Risperidone. U.S. National Library of Medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000944/. Accessed Nov. 26, 2011.
  9. Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 30, 2011.
  10. Wall CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 20, 2011.
DS00196 Jan. 27, 2012

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