What we understand about this illness is that it only goes into "hiding" or what doctors call remission.
Although the patient can almost fully recover and work like most other people, we usually do not say that patient is completely discharged. The patient still needs life long follow up and, if on medications, likely require them for life.
If the medication is stopped and follow up defaulted, the chance of schizophrenia coming back is 4 in 5 people. And every attack has a chance that it can decrease the function of the patient permanently.
