The characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia involve a range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dysfunction where no single symptom is pathognomonic of the disorder (DSM-5, 2013). Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior and negative symptoms are usually present in two or more for a significant amount of time during a 1 month period. Schizophrenia has an onset usually around late adolescence or early adulthood with progressive academic, social and occupational functional challenges following the onset of …show more content…
Individuals with schizophrenia health related quality of life may be influenced by factors such as disease symptoms, medication, physical well-being and social interaction (Bebbington, Angermeyer, Azorin, Marwaha, Marteau & Toumi, 2009). Without being treated, symptoms may limit individuals’ normal daily functioning and make social interaction and vocational rehabilitation very challenging. Atypical antipsychotics have been proven to have lower risks of extrapyramidal symptoms, but higher risk of metabolic adverse events (Guo, Fang, Zhai, Wang, Wang, Hu, Sun, Lv et al., 2011). Research conducted through schizophrenia outpatient health outcomes study found that patients on clozapine and olanzapine have a lower risk of relapse while patients on olanzapine have a higher risk of remission than typical antipsychotics (Guo, Fang, Zhai, Wang, Wang, Hu, Sun, Lv et al.,