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Can a schizophrenic get married?

Dr Smita Deshpande
Senior Psychiatrist,
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital,
New Delhi

Q: My sister is 25 years old. She is being treated for schizophrenia. She developed epilepsy when she was in her 7th grade. She was treated for it through homeopathy. She gradually recovered and for once she was normal, after that she had some behavioural problems and we were misguided thinking it was some kind of psychological problem. We have been consulting a psychiatrist for 4 years now. But things got worse and finally we were told that she is suffering from schizophrenia. Had it been diagnosed a bit early we would have started the treatment early. Now she has started developing some complex about her marriage that she would not get married like us. Can she be permanently cured and lead a normal life like us? Can she get married?

A:You have not written what symptoms your sister had, when she was diagnosed for schizophrenia. It is also not clear what treatment she received. Schizophrenia is not curable condition, but is certainly treatable so that the sufferer can lead a near normal life. Marriage is also not prohibited, but she must marry a partner who understands her condition, need for treatment and need for support. Only then can such marriage be a success.