schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition that causes a range of different psychological symptoms. These include: hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that do not exist), delusions (unusual beliefs that are not based on reality and often contradict the evidence), muddled thoughts based on the hallucinations or delusions, and changes in behaviour. Doctors describe schizophrenia as a psychotic illness. This means that sometimes a person may not be able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality.

Our schizophrenia Blogs

The scars that shape the mind: childhood adversity and the risk of psychosis

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Emotional abuse in childhood was linked to a more than 3.5x greater chance of developing psychosis later in life. This comprehensive new meta-analysis explores the role of early trauma, sex differences, and symptom onset timing in psychosis risk.

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Psychosis stigma in the Middle East: shining a light on hidden struggles

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Shuichi Suetani and Jon Paul Teo consider a new systematic review, which highlights the significant stigma faced by people with psychosis and their families in Middle Eastern communities, and suggests culturally sensitive ways forward.

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What’s in the blood? Immune cell changes in schizophrenia

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Dr Fabiana Corsi-Zuelli discusses the differences in immune cell counts in patients with schizophrenia compared to controls; highlighting a recent meta-analysis by Dudeck et al. (2025) that reinforces the growing consensus that immune dysfunction plays a role in schizophrenia.

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Probiotics for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

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Mary Butler explores a recent randomised controlled trial of probiotic formulations for patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

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We need to improve sleep assessment and treatment in patients with severe mental illness

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Emiliana Tonini looks at how sleep is recorded and treated in people with serious mental illness—and how it affects their engagement with services. The study finds that sleep is rarely part of routine clinical assessment, and recommended sleep treatments are hardly ever used.

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Alternatives to medication for ‘treatment-resistant schizophrenia’

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Kalya Win Aung, Angela Kibia and Dorothy Williams consider a systematic review and network meta-analysis published by the Lancet Psychiatry on psychological and psychosocial interventions for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

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HRT associated with reduced risk of psychosis relapse in middle-age women

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Laura Naysmith summarises a study of menopausal hormone therapy (also known as HRT), which suggests the treatment is linked with reduce the risk of psychosis relapse in menopausal women.

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Omega-3 supplements for the prevention of psychosis: another trial shows no benefit, so is it time to move on?

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David Mongan reports on a recent trial of omega-3 supplementation for the prevention of psychosis in people at ultra-high risk, which finds no evidence of a positive effect. He reflects on these findings and considers what’s next for the field.

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The role of the gut microbiome in treatment-resistant schizophrenia

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Nuala Murray explores a recent Australian case-control study that looks at the associations between changes in gut microbiota and schizophrenia diagnosis, treatment resistance, and clozapine response.

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