Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a major mental disorder. It is the most common of the psychotic disorders. It has been estimated that 50 percent of all mental hospital beds are occupied by patients diagnosed as schizophrenic. The word schizophrenic is derived from a Greek word schizo (split) and phrenic (mind). The term schizophrenia was first coined by a Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler. Schizoprenia indicates a group of disturbances which sometimes occur in different combinations and intensities. Hence, it is heterogeneous in nature. Schizophrenia has generally been considered to be of ancient origin.