The Truth About Schizophrenia: Facts And Myths Debunked

Schizophrenia can be defined as a chronic mental health disorder with symptoms that usually impact how a person functions in everyday life. Symptoms of active schizophrenia can include psychosis, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, delusions, and hallucinations. Working with a mental health professional can improve cognitive function and manage the impact of living with schizophrenia. 

Like many mental health disorders, schizophrenia is often misunderstood due to the many myths and stigmas that tend to be associated with it. For example, some may believe that individuals with schizophrenia have multiple personalities or a propensity for violence, neither of which is true. Others may believe that schizophrenia cannot be treated, but often, therapy and medication can help individuals manage symptoms and live fulfilling lives.

Could you be living with schizophrenia?

Talk about your symptoms with a therapist

What is schizophrenia? 

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that can be highly complex. It usually impacts the thoughts, behavior, and feelings of individuals with the disorder. People with schizophrenia may find it hard to succeed at work or school due to highly impactful symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms, along with social withdrawal, can make it more challenging for individuals to build strong, lasting interpersonal relationships. 

Overall, schizophrenia can be considered rare compared to other mental disorders, with around 0.32% of people worldwide living with it. Individuals with schizophrenia may also experience comorbid conditions, such as substance use disorder, or physical illnesses, like cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. 

These other comorbidities may be the reason why individuals with schizophrenia tend to have a higher early mortality rate when compared to other disorders. 

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Understanding schizophrenia may start with learning about potential symptoms. The symptoms of schizophrenia can often be divided into positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms can be thought of as thoughts and behaviors that are “added” due to schizophrenia, whereas negative symptoms can be seen as thoughts and behaviors that are “taken away” due to the disorder. 

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

• Hallucinations usually involve hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not real. Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, tend to be the most common.
• Delusions can be thought of as false beliefs that are not based in reality. For example, a person with schizophrenia may believe that they’re being persecuted or that they have exceptional abilities, even when presented with evidence disproving these beliefs.
• Disorganized thinking often involves difficulty organizing thoughts or connecting them logically. This can result in speech that seems nonsensical or is difficult to follow.
• Abnormal motor behavior can manifest as a variety of behaviors, such as unpredictable or inappropriate movements, agitation, or catatonia (a state of unresponsiveness).
• Agitation typically entails restlessness or increased activity without a clear purpose.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

• Flat affect generally refers to reduced or absent emotional expression. A person may appear emotionally flat or unresponsive.
• Alogia can be defined as reduced speech output. A person may speak very little, giving brief or monosyllabic answers.
• Avolition can be thought of as decreased motivation to initiate and sustain goal-directed activities. This can result in the neglect of personal hygiene or other daily responsibilities.
• Anhedonia is typically defined as a reduced ability to experience pleasure from activities that are typically enjoyable.
• Social withdrawal often involves the avoidance of social interactions and a preference for being alone.

Although these symptoms may be challenging to overcome, working with a support network of mental health professionals can reduce the impact of schizophrenia on everyday life. After a schizophrenia diagnosis, a person may attend talk therapy, be prescribed antipsychotic medications, and work with other professionals to manage symptoms. 

Causes of schizophrenia

Although the exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown, scientists believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to its development. Schizophrenia may run in families, but this does not mean that if one person in a family has schizophrenia, others will automatically develop it. The genetic connection tends to be highly complex, and many genes may influence whether a person develops schizophrenia. 

Outside of genetics, environmental factors may also play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Factors like poverty, high stress, living in a dangerous location, and prenatal nutritional deficiencies may impact whether a person goes on to develop schizophrenia. These factors, combined with changes in brain chemistry and structure, may put a person at a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.  

Debunking schizophrenia myths

As a serious and rare disorder, schizophrenia is often misunderstood, and many myths about schizophrenia have likely contributed to the stigmatization of the disorder. Understanding and debunking these myths may encourage people with schizophrenia to seek the support and help they deserve, which, in turn, can reduce symptoms and the impact of the disorder. Below, we’ll discuss some of the common myths about schizophrenia.  

Myth: Schizophrenia means you have split or multiple personalities

In general, individuals with schizophrenia do not have multiple personalities. Having multiple personalities is usually a symptom of dissociative identity disorder (DID), which is a separate mental health condition. These identities often control the person's behavior at different times. People with schizophrenia usually do not have multiple personalities; rather, they may experience disruptions in their thoughts, perceptions, and emotions that can affect their ability to function in daily life.

Myth: People with schizophrenia are violent

While many people may believe that people with schizophrenia are violent, this is generally not true. Violence is not considered a symptom of schizophrenia, and statistically speaking, individuals with schizophrenia tend to be more likely to be the target of a violent attack than the perpetrator. Although violence is not a symptom of schizophrenia, associated comorbidities like substance use disorder may cause an increase in violence and could be the reason why violence is sometimes associated with schizophrenia. 

Myth: Schizophrenia is a life sentence

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, which generally means that it may never be completely cured. This does not mean, however, that the disorder cannot be treated. Treatment of schizophrenia can successfully lead to remission of symptoms, and a person can live a healthy and fulfilling life with the disorder. Still, it may be important to note that even when symptoms are not present, there can be potential for them to recur in the future, which is why it can be important to continue with medication and therapy even when psychotic symptoms have subsided.  

Could you be living with schizophrenia?

Talk about your symptoms with a therapist

Treatment of schizophrenia

Treatment for schizophrenia may be most successful when implemented as soon as possible. The early detection and diagnosis of schizophrenia can help a person begin to properly manage the disorder before major symptoms occur. While no two people may be the same, treatment for schizophrenia usually includes a few common methods. 

For many individuals with schizophrenia, treatment may include antipsychotic medication, which can be prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist. Individuals taking any type of medication should follow the directions given by the prescribing professional. It can also be important for individuals with schizophrenia to communicate with their doctors regarding the efficacy and side effects of their medication. 

It may also be recommended that an individual with schizophrenia work with a therapist. A therapist may use modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help an individual manage symptoms and cope with the feelings of distress that can be associated with psychotic episodes. 

For individuals with schizophrenia, online therapy may be effective for treating and managing daily symptoms, although individuals currently experiencing acute psychotic symptoms may require in-person care. 

Research shows that online therapy may be effective for individuals after a psychotic episode, as well as for managing symptoms during inactive phases of schizophrenia. 

When compared with traditional in-person therapy, online therapy can provide a person with more flexibility and comfort. With in-person therapy, you are generally limited to whichever therapists live within driving range. For those living in rural areas, this can be particularly challenging. However, online therapy can provide the opportunity to connect with a therapist in another city, town, or state, potentially making it easier to find a professional who has experience treating schizophrenia. In addition, with online therapy, a person can generally see a therapist at a time that works for them from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Takeaway

Schizophrenia can be defined as a mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal, among other symptoms. Individuals with schizophrenia may find it challenging to manage symptoms on their own, and the disorder may impact their professional and personal lives. Working with a team of mental health professionals may be an important part of managing symptoms. While schizophrenia can be mistakenly viewed as a “life sentence,” these professionals can prescribe medication and provide therapy and coping strategies that can reduce symptoms and improve patient outcomes in the long run.