Can Schizophrenia Be Cured
Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Schizophrenia is a life-long mental disorder that makes it hard for a person to focus, think rationally, communicate with others, and control their emotions.
  • There is presently specified no schizophrenia cure, although drugs and other therapies have proven to be useful in treating specific symptoms, allowing people with schizophrenia to live a more normal life.
  • For those with schizophrenia, treatment is a lifelong commitment, and many individuals with the illness require support with various elements of everyday life.
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Schizophrenia is a life-long mental disorder that makes it hard for a person to focus, think rationally, communicate with others, and control their emotions. There is presently specified no schizophrenia cure, although drugs and other therapies have proven to be useful in treating specific symptoms, allowing people with schizophrenia to live a more normal life.

For those with schizophrenia, treatment is a lifelong commitment, and many individuals with the illness require support with various elements of everyday life.

Schizophrenia, like bipolar disorder and depression, can manifest itself in a variety of ways, with some symptoms being quite severe and others being considerably less so. Collaborating closely with a mental health practitioner who has treated people with schizophrenia before is important to help them live as good a life as possible.

As per the National Institute of Mental Health, schizophrenia affects 0.25 to 0.64 percent. Even after years of research, doctors have yet to discover a treatment or a strategy to avoid schizophrenia.

Nevertheless, significant progress has been achieved in the treatment and comprehension of this serious mental condition.

Schizophrenia is not reversible, but medication treatment and therapy can help control symptoms. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness affecting how you feel, think, act, interpret reality, and what you believe. (source: NIMH, n.d.)

There is currently no cure or treatment for schizophrenia, but it is possible to manage it in such a way that you can live comfortably, meaningfully, and independently. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 20 million individuals worldwide suffer from schizophrenia.

According to research, symptom remission is feasible in 20 to 60 percent of patients with schizophrenia. This indicates that the symptoms are minor enough to not interfere with your daily activities.

If you get the proper treatment at the right time, you’re more likely to go into remission. Early prevention, according to research, is connected to better long-term results.

Every person’s experience with schizophrenia is unique. It may improve before deteriorating, you may experience spells of illness, or the consequences may be more consistent.

Up to one out of every ten persons may have a full recovery from schizophrenia, and one out of every five may see significant improvement. Around half of those diagnosed with schizophrenia will live with it for the rest of their lives without significant improvement of symptoms.

Talk therapies and medication are the most frequent treatments for schizophrenia. (source: WHO, 2022)

Talk therapies

Talking therapies, also known as psychosocial therapy, assist you in examining your thoughts, practices, and behaviors.

  1. Cognitive behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help you understand the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT examines your symptoms and how they affect your life, as well as your beliefs and views. CBT helps you become more aware of your episodes and teaches you strategies for dealing with anxiety, stress, and other symptoms.

  1. Cognitive Remediation Or Retraining

Schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive impairments. Learning, attention, memory, thinking, and problem-solving are just a few examples.

Cognitive rehabilitation is to help you enhance, repair, and retrain your cognition so that you can operate better in everyday situations. The intervention focuses on skills such as memory, attention, and flexibility of thought.

These treatments work, according to studies, especially for persons who are in the early stages of this mental health disorder. (source: NHS, 2023)

  1. Arts Therapies

Art therapy can assist you in learning new methods to interact with others, expressing how you are feeling, and accepting and understanding your feelings. Art therapy is indicated if your psychosis recurs.

Arts therapy, which normally takes place in a group setting to assist integrate communication and creativity, may be more beneficial if you are experiencing depression symptoms like distancing from friends and family.

  1. Family Intervention

Family Intervention is a process in which you and your family collaborate with mental health specialists to improve relationship management. This should be extended to persons you live with or with whom you have regular contact. The level of assistance provided to you and your family will be determined by the nature of your challenges and your shared choices. This could be in the form of a group or individual session.

Early Intervention Teams

Early intervention teams are hospital services that provide support to persons who are experiencing their first symptoms of schizophrenia. Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, specialist nurses, and support staff may be present. (source: APA, n.d.)

Self-care

Self-care and management skills can assist you in understanding and overcoming schizophrenia symptoms.

Your doctor or social support worker may suggest that you seek help with self-management. You might also get peer assistance from people who have schizophrenia.

Self-care focuses on:

  • Physical Activity
  • Diet
  • Relationships and associations
  • Daily routines
  • Medication administration
  • Recognizing your triggers and identifying when you’re getting sick
  • Retaining your recovery
  • What to do in an emergency and where to seek assistance

Interventions in the social sphere are also beneficial. Family and group counseling, job training, and social skills training are among them. Family training is frequently focused on minimizing stress at home and assisting family members in coping with schizophrenia and becoming more effective caretakers.

Job training for people with a variety of psychiatric, developmental, cognitive, and emotional problems sometimes includes vocational rehabilitation programs. They lead to work in regulated settings where people may put their abilities to use in a pleasant environment and feel valued and appreciated. (source: MedlinePlus, n.d.)

Diet

Some research suggests that a high-fat, low-carb diet termed the ketogenic (keto) diet may assist some patients with schizophrenia to reduce symptoms.

Why would this be effective?

Reduced energy output in the brain may be associated with schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia, for instance, are three times more likely to acquire diabetes.

According to one study, persons with first-episode schizophrenia had greater insulin levels and insulin resistance, indicating that their brains aren’t obtaining sufficient energy from glucose.

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat, moderate-protein diet that is often used to treat epilepsy. Ketones are produced as a result of the diet, and they substitute glucose as the brain’s principal fuel source. Insulin-resistant brain cells may benefit from this. (source: NICE, 2014)

Several studies have shown that a keto diet can help manage schizophrenia symptoms. The regimen has also been demonstrated to help with inflammation, metabolism, and neurotransmitter function.

Medications

Antipsychotics are the most widely used drugs for schizophrenia. These drugs appear to work by blocking the action of dopamine, a neurochemical involved in reward and pleasure responses, locomotion, learning, and a variety of other processes.

As per a review of schizophrenia treatments published in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, antipsychotics are particularly effective at treating definite symptoms, like delusions and hallucinations, but they can sometimes worsen other symptoms, like thinking skills and social withdrawal.

Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic or a second-generation medication recommended by the American Psychiatric Association for use with treatment-resistant patients or those at an increased risk of suicide, is one of these newer antipsychotics.

Alternative Treatments (source: Cochrane, 2020)

Some complementary or alternative treatments, like omega-3 fatty acid supplements and B vitamins, have yielded encouraging but variable results.

As per a study published in the International Journal of Yoga, yoga, which has been found to help those with sadness and anxiety, can also help persons with schizophrenia. While it’s unclear exactly how yoga helps, experts believe it does so by causing changes in the levels of oxytocin, which can improve a person’s social cognition.

Other types of exercise, especially aerobic activity, appear to help with both positive and negative symptoms, as well as the quality of life and cognition. Exercise is likely to help enlarge the capacity of the hippocampus in the brain, as per an analysis of countless studies published in the Psychopharmacology Bulletin.

Novel Treatments

Treatment for schizophrenia is a hot topic of research all around the world. Clinical trials are also underway to investigate the use of ketamine, a medication that has shown potential for the treatment of depression in recent years, as well as transcranial electrical stimulation and other treatments. (source: NCBI, 2013)

Long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs and transdermal patches to distribute and deliver those drugs are two recent developments in treatment that help with adherence in those who may not dependably take oral meds.

The medicine lumateperone (Calypta), which targets three main neurochemicals involved in pleasant and depressive symptoms: dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate, was recently approved by the FDA. Because prior schizophrenia treatments focused solely on dopamine, the drug is seen as a breakthrough.

Some people do “completely” recover from schizophrenia. 10 years after the initial diagnosis:

  • About 50 percent of persons with schizophrenia healed or improved to the point where they can work and live independently.
  • Around 25 percent are doing better, but they still require assistance from a robust support system to get by.
  • About 15 percent do not have much of an improvement. The majority of them are in a hospital.

Antipsychotic drugs are quite effective. According to one study, around 70% of those who receive treatment saw their symptoms disappear. Within 6 months, their social occupational functions usually improve, albeit the score may not increase significantly after that. Most of the time, your quality of life can improve.

Long-term statistics for 30 years following diagnosis are comparable to those for a decade, with the exception that more people improve and are able to live independently. People with schizophrenia have a 5% lifetime risk of suicide, but obtaining therapy and taking medication appears to reduce that risk.

Women appear to be better at long-term recuperation than men. Medications, cognitive therapy, and a strong support network can all help you live a successful life while dealing with your mental illness. (source: SAMHSA, n.d.)

Factors Influencing The Recover Rate of Schizophrenia

If you or a close one has schizophrenia, there are a few factors that could affect long-term success:

  • How effectively do you function in the community and at work before the onset of schizophrenia
  • The time it takes between the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
  • The sooner you receive treatment for schizophrenia once symptoms appear, the better your chances of improving and recovering. However, prodrome — the period of time between the onset of symptoms and the onset of full psychosis – can last days, weeks, or even years.
  • The typical interval between the onset of psychosis and the initiation of treatment is six to seven years.

The difficulties that people with schizophrenia face are numerous and often severe. Some of the more serious symptoms, like delusions and hallucinations, maybe more controllable with adequate treatment.

Treatment is required for the rest of one’s life, and drug requirements may change with time. Based on how the individual responds, doses may need to be altered, and some medications may have to be adjusted, added, or removed.

According to a study published in the journal Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria, around one in seven patients with schizophrenia can recover functionally. With no solution in sight, the majority of people who suffer from schizophrenia will have to live with their symptoms for the remainder of their lives.

Schizophrenia should be regarded as a treatable illness, while treatment efficiency varies greatly from person to person. It’s critical to have access to quality healthcare and to stick to a treatment plan. (source: ClinicalTrials.gov, n.d.)

Individuals who are hesitant or are unable to take their drugs on a regular basis or follow up on other aspects of their therapy may require the assistance of a family member or a health assistant. Because the seriousness of schizophrenia varies, expectations for symptom control and quality of life must be adjusted according to the individual’s situation.

Family members who are willing to deal with the difficulties of living with someone who has schizophrenia should be prepared to assist in everything from grooming to meal preparation to hygiene to transportation.

Individuals with schizophrenia are more prone than the average population to have additional mental health illnesses like anxiety or depression, as well as physical health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As a consequence, caring for someone with schizophrenia may necessitate a large team of medical personnel.

As per the 2016 Global Burden of Disease Study, schizophrenia is among the top 15 causes of disability worldwide, affecting approximately 20 million people. This major mental health disease can be managed — not cured — with a mix of drugs and other therapies, despite its difficulty in diagnosis and treatment.

Despite the fact that they confront a lifetime challenge, people with schizophrenia may often achieve a productive and socially rewarding quality of life with the help of a team of health professionals, family and friends, and the community.

FAQs

How Early Do Schizophrenia Symptoms Appear?
It affects people of all ethnic groups at the same rate all across the world. Between the ages of 16 and 30, hallucinations and delusions are common.
Symptoms appear earlier in men than in women. After the age of 45, many people do not develop schizophrenia. Children with schizophrenia are uncommon, but the understanding of childhood psychiatric symptoms is growing.
Diagnosing schizophrenia in teenagers might be tough. This is because the earliest indicators can include a shift in relations, a reduction in grades, sleep issues, and irritability, all of which are common in teenagers.
What Factors Contribute To The Development Of Schizophrenia?
It is now well understood that schizophrenia is a brain illness. It’s likely that the brain abnormalities are caused by faulty brain cell growth or development, or by an issue with brain cell chemistry. The exact cause of these brain abnormalities is unknown, while genes acquired from one or both parents are likely to play a role. Other factors, including exposure to specific illnesses or other stressors at a young age, are suspected to play a role, although much remains unknown.
Are The Symptoms At The Outset Of Schizophrenia More Severe For Men Than Women?
Men and women are equally affected by schizophrenia, and symptoms might appear suddenly or gradually. Men are more likely than women to develop schizophrenia between the ages of 16 and 25, whereas women acquire symptoms many years later, in their late 20s and early 30s. Men with schizophrenia have more serious symptoms, while women may experience paranoia and depressive symptoms.

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