Stereotypes about schizophrenia abound, fueled by media, television, and movies. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that impacts your ability to think and act clearly. Many people with schizophrenia experience hallucinations–seeing things or hearing voices that are not there.
One of the top 15 leading causes of disability worldwide, schizophrenia is characterized by disruptions in emotional responsiveness, perceptions, social interactions, and thought processes. Schizophrenia varies person-to-person, but is usually persistent and can be disabling and severe.
People with schizophrenia are dangerous: Fiction
Fact: According to the American Psychiatric Association, schizophrenic individuals are unlikely to be dangerous or violent.
Many films portray schizophrenic characters as unnecessarily violent. Similarly, a study has found that films exaggerate schizophrenic symptoms for purely dramatic purposes. While this may be no more than a misunderstanding of schizophrenia, it is insensitive and a harmful misrepresentation.
You'll wake up one day and have schizophrenia: Fiction
Fact: Schizophrenia usually presents slowly, developing over time with some early symptoms that may appear in adolescence. Clinically, these symptoms are called "prodrome," and include:
- Confused thinking - difficulty remembering or an inability to understand what people are saying
- Misperception of reality - a feeling that your mind is playing tricks on you
- Paranoid thinking - thinking that someone is wishing you harm, leaving you fearful around people
- Unusual thinking - thoughts that differ from your usual thoughts, or that do not feel like your typical thoughts
- Withdrawal - distancing yourself from everyday activities and loved ones
Early symptoms of schizophrenia typically develop slowly, beginning in adolescence. It's recommended to seek treatment in these early stages, before the onset of schizophrenia.
Individuals with schizophrenia cannot function within society: Fiction
Fact: With a solid support system and the right treatment, people with schizophrenia can be extremely high-functioning and productive.
Person to person, the symptoms of schizophrenia differ greatly. While research shows that many people with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia are often homeless, many individuals live high-functioning, meaningful lives. They have families, friendships, jobs, and hobbies.
A sixteen-year study completed in 2020 showed that the recovery of the subjects "increased steadily and significantly over 16 years." The treatments these subjects received included group therapy, social support, and dual-diagnosis treatment, all of which are believed to have contributed to increasing independent living (about 40% in the first three years to more than 65% in the final three years.)
Living with schizophrenia and functioning within society takes finding the right treatment, as well as dedication–which means continuing treatment even when symptoms disappear.
Bad parenting causes schizophrenia: Fiction
Fact: There are multiple factors that cause schizophrenia. Genetics play a large part but are only one piece of the puzzle. Other factors include environment, bacterial or viral infections, maternal stress during pregnancy, malnutrition, and major stress during critically important parts of development.
Bad parenting and/or difficult relationships do not directly cause schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is untreatable and requires long-term hospitalization: Fiction
Fact: Most people with schizophrenia do best when living at home and attending outpatient treatment. For most, the best treatment options include a combination of therapy and antipsychotic medications.
While the exact cause of schizophrenia is difficult to pinpoint, we do know that it is very treatable, leading to fulfilling, accomplishment-filled lives. The symptoms of schizophrenia are different for everyone, which has fueled misinformation and stigmas around this mental illness. With the help of trusted professionals and a solid support system, people with schizophrenia are no different from anyone else.
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