Until recently, medical professionals believed that only a minority of patients could recover from schizophrenia. But now, new Norwegian research suggests that more than half of the study participants are doing well.
After four years of treatment, 55 per cent of the young people were partially or fully recovered, and fully ten per cent of those who are fully recovered no longer use medication.
"Having such a high proportion be well-functioning shows that schizophrenic patients have a greater potential to get well than previous research has shown," says Professor Anne-Kari Torgalsbøen at the University of Oslo’s Department of Psychology.
She believes too much pessimism has been associated with this diagnosis.
"The results of this study give hope not only to patients and their relatives, but also provide inspiration for everyone who treats young people with psychotic disorders," she says.