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Schizophrenia

Program Overview

What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain. It affects one in 100 people and it is a real disease -- as real as diabetes, multiple sclerosis or cancer.  It can affect anyone regardless of race, culture, sex or economic status.

Schizophrenia usually occurs in the late teenage years or early adulthood, but has been known to occur in children as well.  It is a chronic disease in which symptoms worsen or improve at times.  With appropriate treatment, most symptoms can be controlled.

The cause of schizophrenia is complex.  There is probably more than one cause, just as there is more than one way to treat the disease.  There is evidence that genetics play a role in schizophrenia.  People with a family history of schizophrenia are more susceptible to developing the disease than the general population.

Studies of brain chemistry show that there is a chemical imbalance in the brains of people with schizophrenia.  It is this imbalance that is thought to cause psychotic symptoms such as hearing voices or experiencing thought disturbances.

About the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre's Schizophrenia Program
The Schizophrenia Program is headquartered in the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre at 1145 Carling Avenue in Ottawa.  The Program serves people over the age of 16 with known or suspected schizophrenia or a related disorder.  The Program serves people with clinical needs that are best addressed in a specialized hospital setting.  

Referral & Admission Criteria
A physician referral is needed for acceptance into the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre's Schizophrenia Program.  People without a physician can contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons at (613) 730-8177 to ask for help in finding a family physician for a referral.

To be admitted into the Schizophrenia Program, a person must:

  • Be 16 years of age or older;
  • Meet the DSM IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizophrenia disorder; and
  • Have clinical needs that cannot be adequately addressed in the community or the general psychiatry setting.

Clinical needs are defined as:

  • Unstable symptoms or failure to respond well to medication.
  • Psychosocial needs in at least three of the following five areas:
    1. Basic tasks of independent living
    2. Housing
    3. Finances
    4. Educational or occupational functioning
    5. Ability to establish or maintain social support system

The person must have at least one of the clinical needs listed above, and/or the person would benefit from clinical research activity in the Schizophrenia Program.  Another requirement is that the referring community physician is willing to participate in shared care of the person being admitted to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre's Schizophrenia Program.

Consultation Services
Consultation is available to persons with schizophrenia or suspected schizophrenia or a related disorder with a referral from a physician.  The main purposes of consultation are:

  • to assist in establishing a diagnosis;
  • to determine if the person would benefit from admission to the Schizophrenia Program;
  • to provide an opinion regarding treatment and management (change of medication or participation in a drug study); and
  • to obtain information about accessing community-based resources (housing, financial assistance, etc.).

Young Adult Services
The Young Adult Service provides comprehensive care to individuals (and their families) who are in the first five years of a psychotic illness.  The Young Adult Team provides assessment, individual and group treatment, family counseling and family support groups in the hospital, in the community and -- as required -- in your home.

Education and support is extended to your social, school and/or work network.  The team also provides important links to other community resources.