This is because as patients admit that they have a mental disorder and their behavioral malfunction is associated with a serious condition, it gives rise to intense feelings of depression and complete frustration. Patients may lose hope and thus may decide to end their lives. Thus risk of suicide increase as awareness of disorder increases in patients. It has also been found that while suicide risk may increase as patients become aware of their condition; the awareness still plays a significant role in treating the patients. Most schizophrenia patients are likely to respond more positively to medical intervention if they understand their condition. There is a general willingness to cooperate and to feel better even though risk of suicide remains high.

Cannabis Use and Schizophrenia

It is believed that cannabis use is connected with onset of schizophrenia or worsening of its symptoms. A condition known as cannabic psychosis has been discovered in connection with the use of cannabis which can last for weeks or months in people who are heavy long-term users of cannabis. Recent studies have confirmed the existence of this type of psychosis and it has lent further credibility to reports of link between schizophrenia and cannabis.

Thus when users of cannabis continue using it in the hope that it would reduce their psychotic symptoms, the condition may worsen and cause hallucinations just like in the case of schizophrenia. The connection between cannabis use and schizophrenia is now well documented. Linzen et al. (1994) have found that schizophrenia can develop in those cannabis users who display certain personality traits and have a family history of psychosis. This shows that certain personality types and genetic combination may predispose some people to symptoms of schizophrenia.

Personality Traits and Schizophrenia

Since we have already discussed that some personality traits may be found in schizophrenia patients, it is important to see how studies support this claim. In a study conducted by Berenbaum and Fujita in 1994, it was found that patients with schizophrenia had "elevated NA (neuroticism) and low PA (extraversion), as well as elevations on a nonemotional trait they termed "peculiarity." (Horan et al.) It was also found that "disturbances in these affective traits, although not specific to schizophrenia, may help explain clinical symptoms, course, and associated features."...

2008). Emotional problems of schizophrenia patients can range from inability to feel emotions to actually feel but not be able to express them properly. Kring et al. (2008) explain: "…functions of emotion in persons with schizophrenia are comparable to those without schizophrenia however, emotion disturbances in schizophrenia can interfere with the achievement of these important emotion-related functions. For example, a schizophrenia patient's absence of facial expressions may evoke negative responses from others, thus negatively impacting social relationships and interactions."
Conclusion

The paper focused on several aspects of the mental disorder known as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has both genetic and environmental causes. Some similarities in personality have been found in patients with this condition such as lack of emotional response and serious fear of conspiracy. The prevalence is low but schizophrenia is highly researched condition which has led to availability of vast amount of credible literature on the subject. Despite this, there is still no perfect treatment available for the condition even though some modern medical interventions have been able to improve the quality of life for the patients.

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Siris, 2001