<p>The current understanding, I believe, is that symptomatic psychiatric disorders may or may not be lifelong according to many factors, but that the susceptibility to them probably is lifelong. Some examples. . .</p>

<ul>
<li><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance-induced_psychosis" rel="nofollow">Substance-induced psychosis</a> (which is pretty much what it sounds like) is often though not always temporary.</p></li>
<li><p>Certain types and locations of brain tumors may <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2688330/" rel="nofollow">cause psychotic symptoms</a>, which may or may not reverse on treatment.
Afr Health Sci. Dec 2004; 4(3): 190–194.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra073096" rel="nofollow">Major depressive disorder</a> has a highly variable course, and may reoccur or may not.
N Engl J Med 2008; 358:55-68. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra073096</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-03T15:36:41.443Z
2014-12-03T15:36:41.443Z
Krysta
<p>Schizophrenia has no cure, which means you cannot "force" it to stop. However, not every case is lifelong by nature.</p>

<p>Information on schizophrenia prognosis: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognosis_of_schizophrenia" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognosis_of_schizophrenia</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"A clinical study using strict recovery criteria (concurrent remission
  of positive and negative symptoms and adequate social and vocational
  functioning continuously for two years) found a recovery rate of 14%
  within the first five years.[17] A 5-year community study found that
  62% showed overall improvement on a composite measure of clinical and
  functional outcomes.[18]"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Some tellings from people who have come through: <a href="http://www.topix.com/forum/health/schizophrenia/TL09TM53OI68I1IVI" rel="nofollow">http://www.topix.com/forum/health/schizophrenia/TL09TM53OI68I1IVI</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-24T09:30:17.190Z
2015-05-24T09:30:17.190Z
Berit Larsen
<p>According to this systemic review (:the most objective kind of evidence come from reviews of studies not primary sources:) 1 in 7 schizophrenia patients met criteria for recovery.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814844" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814844</a></p>
<blockquote>
<h1>A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Recovery in Schizophrenia:</h1>
<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Based on the best available data, approximately, 1 in 7 individuals with schizophrenia met our criteria for recovery. Despite major changes in treatment options in recent decades, the proportion of recovered cases has not increased. <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814844" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814844</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-05-26T14:18:55.433Z
2020-02-07T15:56:30.817Z
2020-06-17T09:55:31.633Z
Manifested Being
<p>It is known that psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar I, and bipolar II are for life, and require long term treatment (lifelong).</p>

<p>Is this always the case?</p>

<p>The answer could include reference to <em>any</em> disorder, even those not listed in the DSM, <em>say bipolar III, bipolar IV, bipolar V, etc.</em> This refers to what is known as <em>bipolar spectrum disorder</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-26T14:09:15.153Z
Is this question specifically about schizophrenia/bipolar disorder (that's what the edited title looks like), or to any disorder (that's what the question text looks like)?
Krysta
<clinical-psychology><psychopharmacology><schizophrenia><bipolar-disorder>
Are there any circumstances where schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are not lifelong?
jiniyt
# Are there any circumstances where schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are not lifelong?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-01)

It is known that psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar I, and bipolar II are for life, and require long term treatment (lifelong).

Is this always the case?

The answer could include reference to *any* disorder, even those not listed in the DSM, *say bipolar III, bipolar IV, bipolar V, etc.* This refers to what is known as *bipolar spectrum disorder*.

**Tags:** clinical-psychology, psychopharmacology, schizophrenia, bipolar-disorder

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is this question specifically about schizophrenia/bipolar disorder (that's what the edited title looks like), or to any disorder (that's what the question text looks like)?  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-05-26. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

According to this systemic review (:the most objective kind of evidence come from reviews of studies not primary sources:) 1 in 7 schizophrenia patients met criteria for recovery.

Source: <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814844>

> # A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Recovery in Schizophrenia:
>
> **Conclusions:** Based on the best available data, approximately, 1 in 7 individuals with schizophrenia met our criteria for recovery. Despite major changes in treatment options in recent decades, the proportion of recovered cases has not increased. <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/814844>


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-12-03. Score: 4

The current understanding, I believe, is that symptomatic psychiatric disorders may or may not be lifelong according to many factors, but that the susceptibility to them probably is lifelong. Some examples. . .

* [Substance-induced psychosis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance-induced_psychosis) (which is pretty much what it sounds like) is often though not always temporary.
* Certain types and locations of brain tumors may [cause psychotic symptoms](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2688330/), which may or may not reverse on treatment.
  Afr Health Sci. Dec 2004; 4(3): 190–194.
* [Major depressive disorder](http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra073096) has a highly variable course, and may reoccur or may not.
  N Engl J Med 2008; 358:55-68. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra073096


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-05-24. Score: 3

Schizophrenia has no cure, which means you cannot "force" it to stop. However, not every case is lifelong by nature.

Information on schizophrenia prognosis: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognosis_of_schizophrenia>

> "A clinical study using strict recovery criteria (concurrent remission
> of positive and negative symptoms and adequate social and vocational
> functioning continuously for two years) found a recovery rate of 14%
> within the first five years.[17] A 5-year community study found that
> 62% showed overall improvement on a composite measure of clinical and
> functional outcomes.[18]"

Some tellings from people who have come through: <http://www.topix.com/forum/health/schizophrenia/TL09TM53OI68I1IVI>


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