Schizophrenia
is an illness that affects more than 2 million Americans. And while the
condition ranks high in the public's consciousness, our collective
understanding of it is low.
There are a number of myths about people with schizophrenia, generally based on the underlying false assumption that the experiences of schizophrenia are the same from person to person.
Ken Duckworth, MD, medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), says it's hard to generalize about people with schizophrenia: "It's extremely complicated. No two people with schizophrenia are the same."
Schizophrenia: Myths and Realities
Myth: People with schizophrenia have "split personalities." This is the perhaps the most pervasive myth about the disease, and it is perpetuated in the news, movies, and television shows.
Reality: This is a symptom of a different illness entirely. "Split personalities" or "multiple personalities" are not a symptom of schizophrenia; in fact, these symptoms indicate a different mental illness called Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Reality: Some people with schizophrenia may be dangerous, but most are not. Some people with schizophrenia may be prone to violent outbursts, but the vast majority of people with this disorder tend to withdraw from society when they become symptomatic.
Duckworth says, "Again, it's complicated. The truth is that most people are completely benign. But, another truth:
There is a small subset of the population that can be dangerous, usually people who are also using drugs or alcohol. And, around 10 percent kill themselves, which is inherently violent."
Reality: Many people recover. "People do pretty well over time. Symptoms sometimes lose their intensity," Duckworth says. Most people can find relief from symptoms, and as many as half of people with schizophrenia can experience significant or even complete recovery with treatment.
The Media's Role in Perpetuating Schizophrenia Stereotypes
The media are partially responsible for how we perceive schizophrenia — as Duckworth says, "American media has contributed to mass confusion about it.
" In a 2003 survey of American newspapers, Duckworth and his colleagues found that in 28 percent of articles in which the words "schizophrenia" and "schizophrenic" appeared, the words did not refer to the illness, but rather were invoked as metaphor.
"Schizophrenic" was used to describe the erratic behavior of the weather, the stock market, and even the New England Patriots' football team.
However, newer, more sensitive and complex portrayals of schizophrenia in the media can help us change our understanding of this disease.
There may be a trend toward moving away from using "schizophrenic" to mean "crazy" or "bad." A 2008 segment of MTV's True Life documentary series called "I Have Schizophrenia" allowed young people with the disorder to share their experiences in their own words.
And the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind portrayed the life of mathematician John Nash, who lived and worked with schizophrenia. More realistic and nuanced portrayals like these give mental illness advocates reason to be optimistic.
There are a number of myths about people with schizophrenia, generally based on the underlying false assumption that the experiences of schizophrenia are the same from person to person.
Ken Duckworth, MD, medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), says it's hard to generalize about people with schizophrenia: "It's extremely complicated. No two people with schizophrenia are the same."
Schizophrenia: Myths and Realities
Myth: People with schizophrenia have "split personalities." This is the perhaps the most pervasive myth about the disease, and it is perpetuated in the news, movies, and television shows.
Reality: This is a symptom of a different illness entirely. "Split personalities" or "multiple personalities" are not a symptom of schizophrenia; in fact, these symptoms indicate a different mental illness called Dissociative Identity Disorder.
- This misperception may originate from the word "schizophrenic" which describes the "split mind" that people with schizophrenia seem to exhibit. "Split mind refers to the mismatch between thought and feeling.
- A person may be telling a very sad or distressing story while smiling, or may be afraid of things that are completely mundane," Duckworth says.
- A person with schizophrenia may react inappropriately to situations, but that does not mean that he or she has multiple personalities.
Reality: Some people with schizophrenia may be dangerous, but most are not. Some people with schizophrenia may be prone to violent outbursts, but the vast majority of people with this disorder tend to withdraw from society when they become symptomatic.
Duckworth says, "Again, it's complicated. The truth is that most people are completely benign. But, another truth:
There is a small subset of the population that can be dangerous, usually people who are also using drugs or alcohol. And, around 10 percent kill themselves, which is inherently violent."
- There is evidence that suggests that psychoses can and do fuel violent behaviors, but the actual numbers don't justify a fear of all people with schizophrenia. People with psychotic symptoms account for only 5 percent of violent crime, and some estimate the number closer to 1 percent.
- In fact, people living with schizophrenia are in greater danger of being victimized by both violent and non-violent crimes than the general population.
Reality: Many people recover. "People do pretty well over time. Symptoms sometimes lose their intensity," Duckworth says. Most people can find relief from symptoms, and as many as half of people with schizophrenia can experience significant or even complete recovery with treatment.
The Media's Role in Perpetuating Schizophrenia Stereotypes
The media are partially responsible for how we perceive schizophrenia — as Duckworth says, "American media has contributed to mass confusion about it.
" In a 2003 survey of American newspapers, Duckworth and his colleagues found that in 28 percent of articles in which the words "schizophrenia" and "schizophrenic" appeared, the words did not refer to the illness, but rather were invoked as metaphor.
"Schizophrenic" was used to describe the erratic behavior of the weather, the stock market, and even the New England Patriots' football team.
However, newer, more sensitive and complex portrayals of schizophrenia in the media can help us change our understanding of this disease.
There may be a trend toward moving away from using "schizophrenic" to mean "crazy" or "bad." A 2008 segment of MTV's True Life documentary series called "I Have Schizophrenia" allowed young people with the disorder to share their experiences in their own words.
And the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind portrayed the life of mathematician John Nash, who lived and worked with schizophrenia. More realistic and nuanced portrayals like these give mental illness advocates reason to be optimistic.
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