Homelessness in Schizophrenia

Homelessness in Schizophrenia

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a serious disorder of the brain and is extremely difficult to cure. Hence, the success rate with psycho-social therapies and antipsychotic medications can be alarmingly high. Based on past research, it was estimated that cure for this disease would be available by the 2013 (Rees, 2009). Currently, there are a total of 15 new medications that are provided to patients of Schizophrenia for the treatment of this disease. Moreover, there are improving cognitive therapies and psycho-social treatments for Schizophrenia that have demonstrated varying rates of success. These treatments additionally promise to provide better life for people who are suffering from Schizophrenia in the future (NCCMH, 2010).

Schizophrenia normally begins between 15 and 25 years of age i.e. in early adulthood. Men become victim of Schizophrenia disease a little earlier than women while most of the males suffer from Schizophrenia between the age of 16 and 25 years (Allen, n.d.). The following figure illustrates the occurrence of Schizophrenia in accordance with age.

Discussion

Schizophrenia is a dreadful disorder for people suffering from anxiety or chronic depression. However, the disease is equally dangerous for societies and families. Looking at statistical data for the United States, it was observed that around US$62.7 billion were spent on the disease along with an additional $22.7 billion in healthcare costs (Hulchanski, 2009). Moreover, the prevalence of schizophrenia among Americans was found to be 8% for every 1000 people diagnosed which is quite alarming when compared with statistics of other countries (Rees, 2009). This means that an estimated 2.2 million Americans are suffering from Schizophrenia. Among US cities, New York is among the most seriously affected by the disease. 6% of all patients in New York who have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia either live in shelters or are homeless (Rees, 2009).

In New York, almost 200,000 individuals with manic depression or Schizophrenia are homeless which is contributing to almost one third of the total homeless population i.e. 600,000 (Bharel et al., 2011). There are more people who are living on the streets of New York and have not been properly diagnosed or provided treatment. Such a sight is more common in downtown areas where the standard of living is quite low. Therefore, while an estimated 90,000 patients suffering from manic depression or Schizophrenia are getting proper treatment in hospitals, the remaining 110,000 patients are living on the streets and are uncured and untreated (Rees, 2009).

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