ABSTRACT
Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling mental disease that typically first manifests during adolescence and young adulthood. It occurs worldwide, in approximately 0.5% to 1% of the general population (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and affects all social classes. The costs for society are considerable: direct and indirect costs for Canada alone have been estimated at $4.3 billion yearly (Schizophrenia Society of Canada, 2000). The disease is also highly distressing and disabling for individuals and families. Clinically, schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of delusions and hallucinations (positive symptoms), incoherence of thoughts, speech and behavior (disorganization), lack of motivation, poverty of speech, poor self–care, affective flattening, motor retardation, and disinterest in interpersonal interactions (negative symptoms).
