What effects will a medical record of schizophrenia have on a person?

Rather negative: Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric illness with real life consequences even with effective treatments. This diagnosis is given only after evaluation and deliberation and is taken seriously by everyone. Yes it carries negative connotations. Patients with schizophrenia have difficulty holding jobs and hence people are reluctant to hire them.

Catastrophic: Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating illness which effects all aspects of one's life. There are rarely "high functioning" schizophrenics. Appropriate treatment is critical to decrease the long term decline in functioning. Unfortunately the social stigma is even more devastating than the illness itself.