Schizophrenia, the most common psychotic disorder, affects 1
percent of the general population.  The symptoms begin in late
adolescence or early 20s in men and 20s and early 30s in women. 
The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia includes:  at
least 6 months of sufficiently deteriorated occupational,
interpersonal and self-supportive functioning; two or more of
the following positive symptoms: delusions, hallucinations,
disorganized speech or behavior; or negative symptoms such as
affective flattening, alogia or avolition during a 1 month
period.  The symptoms can not be accounted for by the presence
of a schizoaffective or major mood disorder, autism, or an
organic condition.  Positive and negative symptoms vary in
intensity over time.  Criminal behavior is not a characteristic
of schizophrenia however, patients may commit violent acts due
to their hallucinations, delusions, or impaired social skills. 
The lifetime prevalence of suicide is 10 percent amongst
schizophrenics.      Multiple genetic and