My mother was paranoid schizophrenic and when she was on her medication she was the sweetest, kindest person you could ever meet. However, whenever she was off her meds (her idiot doctor took her off it twice in ten years and both times she had to be Baker Acted into the psych ward) she was off the wall. She would peer around bushes and say people were following her, that people were in her room doing sexual things. She would go outside in her nightie (she was in her 80s and in an assisted living facility) and tell the staff that my brother was coming to take her "home". She would go into rages and scream and throw things and be somewhat dangerous to be around. Unfortunately, she was not diagnosed until I was 13 and I grew up with total uncertainty regarding a lack of safety in life. But, what I am trying to say is, medication is critical to treatment. At various times she was diagnosed with depression with schizoid tendencies in addition to paranoid schizophrenia. The love and support of family is important to those who have schizophrenia - to make certain they take their meds as well as to reassure them they are loved and supported. Hope this helps.