“Schizophrenic” Meaning: A Diagnosis That’s Often Misunderstood
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that can make people see or hear things that aren’t there, develop false beliefs, withdraw socially, and struggle with daily tasks. In general, there are still many myths surrounding schizophrenia, which often paint a false picture of what it means to have the disorder. For example, people often believe that schizophrenia involves having multiple personalities or that those with schizophrenia are usually violent, neither of which is true. Those with schizophrenia can often manage their symptoms with a combination of treatment methods, including therapy.
Understanding schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that often emerges in young adulthood. It usually causes changes in the ways people think and behave. These changes may eventually lead to something called “psychosis.”
Psychosis can be defined a state in which a person becomes detached from reality. They might hear voices, see things that aren’t real, or develop false or fantastical beliefs. People with schizophrenia may go through multiple periods of psychosis during their lives.
Symptoms of schizophrenia are often given labels like “positive,” “negative,” and “cognitive.” Positive symptoms can be seen as symptoms that tend to be more common during periods of psychosis. Some examples include the following:
- Delusions: False beliefs that can’t be changed, even with evidence against them
- Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, or sensing things that aren’t there
- Disorganized thinking: Thoughts that jump around or don’t follow logic
- Disorganized speech: Talking in a way that’s hard for others to understand
On the other hand, negative symptoms may be more likely to continue between psychotic episodes. Some common examples include those listed below:
- Losing the desire to interact with others
- Lacking motivation to do daily tasks
- Not experiencing enjoyment from hobbies, relationships, and activities
- Showing limited emotions
Cognitive symptoms are usually considered the final type of core symptoms. These can be viewed as changes in people’s mental functions due to schizophrenia, which may affect their ability to:
- Learn
- Make plans
- Think in abstract ways
- Remember information
- Pay attention
- Solve problems
Schizophrenia used to be broken up into different subtypes. In the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-V, this is no longer the case. Now, schizophrenia falls under the category of “schizophrenia spectrum disorders.” This new definition can better account for the wide range of effects the disorder can have on people. The schizophrenia spectrum also includes other mental illnesses, like brief psychotic disorder and schizoaffective disorder.
“Schizophrenic” meaning: Debunking the myths
A lot of inaccurate beliefs may still surround schizophrenia. Debunking them may help us get a better understanding of this complex mental illness. With that in mind, let’s look at a few of the most common ones.
Myth: Having schizophrenia means having a “split personality”
This is perhaps one of the most persistent myths about schizophrenia. In a 2019 survey of university students on their beliefs about the disorder, nearly half the respondents believed it caused people to develop multiple personalities. It may be true that certain schizophrenia symptoms, like changes in emotions and social habits, may seem to affect people’s personalities. However, the disorder doesn’t actually cause someone to develop multiple identities. (This is typically a symptom of a separate mental illness called dissociative identity disorder or DID.)
Myth: Having schizophrenia means being unintelligent
Another common myth may be that people with schizophrenia aren’t smart. This may stem from certain research, like a 2015 study that analyzed data from the medical and family records of Swedish men. Researchers found that those with lower IQ scores were typically at a greater risk of schizophrenia.
Still, it may be worth noting that IQ scores may not tell the whole story. Many people known for their intelligence, like Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Myth: Schizophrenia makes people violent
There tends to be a common belief that people with schizophrenia are violent, explosive, or dangerous. It can be true that people experiencing psychotic symptoms may act in unpredictable ways. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, most people with schizophrenia aren’t violent. In fact, those with schizophrenia may be more likely to experience violence themselves than to be violent toward others.
Myth: Genetics are the cause of schizophrenia
Genetics likely play a role in a person’s likelihood of developing schizophrenia. However, it’s generally not a simple matter of whether you have a relative with the condition. Even if you have an identical twin with schizophrenia, studies have found that the risk of developing it yourself is still only around 50%. Multiple other risk factors may make a person vulnerable to the disorder, including the following:
- A low birth weight
- Illness during pregnancy
- Growing up in an urban environment
- Complications during birth
- Being born in the winter
- Having older parents
It’s likely that schizophrenia is caused by a combination of genetics, life experiences, and environmental factors like those listed above.
Myth: It’s impossible to recover from schizophrenia
There is currently no known cure for schizophrenia. This may be why some people believe it’s impossible to go back to your old life once you develop it. While schizophrenia can have significant impacts on people’s lives, it’s often treatable. With the right interventions, many people with schizophrenia can work, have relationships, and improve their quality of life. According to the World Health Organization, at least one-third of schizophrenia patients may fully recover from their symptoms.
That said, recovery can depend on having the proper support. If you’ve recently been diagnosed, you may want to talk to your doctor about treatment options. They may recommend a combination of treatments, such as antipsychotic medications, social support programs, or other mental health services.
In addition, therapy can often help those with schizophrenia better manage their symptoms. Through counseling, it may be possible to adjust negative thought patterns, improve relationships, and develop the tools to navigate daily life in a healthy way.
Commuting to in-person therapy may not always be easy with schizophrenia, which can often affect motivation, mood, and the desire to socialize. With online therapy, you can work with a therapist directly from your home. This may be an easier option for people whose symptoms make it hard to leave the house.
Online interventions can be helpful for people with schizophrenia. In a 2016 study, a group of veterans with schizophrenia who were at risk of suicide participated in a telehealth treatment program. After three months, the majority experienced improvements in their symptoms. Still, it can be important to note that individuals experiencing acute psychosis may require in-person care.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 988 to talk to someone over SMS. Support is available 24/7.
Takeaway
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can cause changes in people’s thinking and behavior, and it often involves hallucinations and delusions. Many myths can surround schizophrenia, such as the beliefs that it makes people violent and that it can’t be treated. In reality, schizophrenia is a complex condition with multiple causes, and it can often be managed. With proper treatment, frequently involving doctor-prescribed medication and online or in-person therapy, many people with schizophrenia can improve their quality of life, and some may even have a full recovery from their symptoms.
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