Schizophrenia is considered to be one of the most serious mental illnesses and, indeed, this entity can significantly impede the patient's ability to function normally. However, many myths have grown up around the illness, often detrimental to the patients - contrary to appearances, a patient with schizophrenia can be professionally active, the children of a patient with schizophrenia do not have to suffer from this condition themselves, and with proper treatment of the illness, the patient's surroundings may not even be aware that their friend suffers from schizophrenia.