First episode schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition. Patients with schizophrenia present clinically with psychotic, negative and cognitive symptoms, which can become evident late in adolescence or in early adulthood. The peak age for presentation is 20 years in males and 25 years in females. This chronic condition follows a relapsing remitting course, and eventually results in a chronic state of residual symptoms and functional impairment.