Are mental illnesses treatable?

Of course, they are, but the results of treatment are dependent to a large extent on the type of disease, on the time when its treatment is administered as well as on the consequences of the conduct of its treatment. For example, in schizophrenia, when the treatment is properly conducted, about 60% of the patients achieve such improvement of their health that they can function both socially and professionally. For 20 – 30% schizophrenia ends at the first and the only episode.
The fact that in about 60 – 80% of cases the patients who have abandoned the continuation of treatment after the resolution of the acute psychotic episode relapse within a year shows how a consistent treatment is important.
It is to be noted that schizophrenia is a chronic disease and that the persons affected by it are susceptible to the occurrence of its symptoms throughout their lives. Long-term treatment reduces the risk of its relapse.
The prognosis for other mental illnesses is even harder; their courses are different in each case, and, in practice, it is difficult to determine whether the resulting health improvement is a permanent recovery or a periodic improvement only before the next episode of a given illness. In each case, it is necessary to work closely with a psychiatrist.