Hi Mary,

I understand your dad's companion's daughter has exhibited behavior that is troublesome.  I'll talk about this however first I will make the same disclaimer I made to the guy who wrote in about his neighbor who threatened violence.

Only about 5 percent of the people diagnosed with schizophrenia, as opposed to 3 percent of the general population, are violent.  This statistic increased in a recent study to 28 percent when the person diagnosed with schizophrenia had a co-occuring substance abuse disorder [abused street drugs or alcohol].

You have to be honest as to whether the woman's daughter has threatened violence [in that case, she is a danger to herself or someone else and can be involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital].  If she has not exhibited violence I would tell you to monitor her behavior anyway in case you feel her symptoms are worsening, such as delusions, paranoia, or hearing voices or being actively psychotic.

Those are the symptoms most people need to concern themselves about when someone they know has schizophrenia.  I also understand it can be frightening to outsiders who do not live with schizophrenia themselves to be in the presence of someone whose symptoms are not under control.

However I want you to understand that a lot of people with schizophrenia, whose symptoms are not under control, most likely feel scared and confused themselves.  When they find the right medication or combination of meds that alleviates their symptoms, they often begin to get their confidence back although even then they might not feel too good about the prospect of having this illness.

So I would urge you to act with compassion and kindness towards the companion's daughter.  Click on the green Find button at the top left of this page and then click on Schizophrenia Basics to read more about this medical condtion.

The NAMI web site is also a good place to learn about this and other mental illnesses.  With more understanding you might see the daughter as a person first who has been given something she neither wanted nor deserved and who might be doing the best she can due to the severity of her symptoms.

At any rate, it will be up to your dad's companion to help make sure her daughter gets the treatment the woman needs should her symptoms get out of control.

Next Saturday I will post here a SharePost titled "10 Things You Should Know About Schizophrenia" and I urge you to read that.  Read now my SharePost 10 Schizophrenia Myths Busted as well.

Regards,

Christina