Final answer:
Schizophrenia causes disturbances in perception, emotion, and behavior but generally does not impair intelligence. It involves complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, and is treated with antipsychotic medications targeting dopamine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that can disrupt a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. It is characterized primarily by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms like emotional flatness and lack of pleasure.
These disturbances can deeply impact social interactions and daily functioning. Schizophrenia typically does not cause disturbances in intelligence; most patients retain their cognitive abilities to understand and answer questions, although they may struggle with concentration or memory.
It is a complex condition with etiological theories involving genetic predispositions and environmental factors. The pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia generally includes antipsychotic medications, which target the neurotransmitter dopamine by blocking its receptors, although this can sometimes lead to side effects resembling Parkinson's disease.