Final answer:
Schizophrenia becomes chronic when it develops slowly and is managed with medication that decreases dopamine neurotransmission; professional help is necessary for recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Schizophrenia is considered chronic when it develops slowly over time and requires ongoing management, typically with antipsychotic medication. Antipsychotics work by decreasing dopamine neurotransmission since certain symptoms of schizophrenia are linked with overactive dopamine systems.
These drugs are not a cure but can greatly reduce or manage the symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, helping the patient to engage more effectively with their environment. Recovery without professional help is unlikely due to the neurobiological nature of the illness that includes malfunctioning dopaminergic neurons and possibly glutamatergic signaling issues.