The cost of medical care for schizophrenia may not be the greatest burden for families. The effects of the illness can be devastating for family members, too. Hopes and dreams for a loved one can be destroyed. Paranoid schizophrenia is particularly difficult to treat because clients may resist treatment and not take medication.

"... so treatment focuses on eliminating symptoms with antipsychotic medications and psychosocial therapy."

Antipsychotic drugs are imperfect, not equally effective for all clients, and they all have side effects - some potentially serious or particularly difficult to accept. Elimination of symptoms is only a goal.

The meds do not cause people to become violent. The mentally ill are no more likely to commit violence than the population as a whole. In fact, they are actually at greater risk of violence exacted upon them.