Tackling Misconceptions about Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that impacts how individuals perceive and experience the world around them. It is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and thought disorder. Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the population, commonly diagnosed in individuals in their late teens to early thirties (National Institute of Mental Health). It is one of the most stigmatized and misunderstood mental disorders, despite its prevalence. The complexity of schizophrenia may be the reason that it is surrounded by so many misconceptions, however, that does not take away from the fact that it is a real mental disorder that debilitates the lives of many people.
The origin of the word, schizophrenia, means “split-mind.” Thus, people tend to assume individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have multiple personalities. This is far from the truth. In a study by De Jong & Mather (2009), students enrolled in an introductory psychology class about schizophrenia were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire analyzed their beliefs about schizophrenia—in which they discovered that some students held untrue and ignorant beliefs. More specifically, participants answered incorrectly on categories associated with violence, substance abuse, hallucinations and delusions, and multiple personalities.
The media also tends to create a lot of myths about schizophrenia. For example, the media often portrays individuals with schizophrenia as inherently violent and dangerous. This is a generalized assumption that simply paints the majority in a very dark and negative light—which can become a barrier in seeking and receiving treatment.
A study by Owen (2007), examined how movies and television are used to depict mental illness—especially in those diagnosed with schizophrenia, and how it can lead to the perpetuation of stigma. In the study, participants either watched a video exploring myths about schizophrenia, or listened to a traditional lecture of accurate information about schizophrenia. They found that prior to the video or myth vs fact lecture, most participants “reported misinformation about symptoms of schizophrenia (i.e., hallucinations are required for a diagnosis, split personality and schizophrenia are the same condition), causes of schizophrenia (i.e., a traumatic life experience can cause schizophrenia), and treatment of schizophrenia (i.e., insight therapy can cure” (Owen, 2007, pg. 8).
Many of the ideas or beliefs we hold about certain disorders may be false and can do so much harm for individuals struggling with their mental health. Stigma continues to be a huge barrier to accessing treatment due to inaccurate and ignorant information. However, through education and awareness, we can begin to see disorders like schizophrenia for what they are instead of what the media portrays them to be.
References
De Jong, M. A., & Mather, J. (2009). Undergraduate students’ perceptions of schizophrenia. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 7(3), 458–467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-009-9197-1
Owen, P. (2007). Dispelling myths about schizophrenia using film. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37(1), 60–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0021-9029.2007.00147.x
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/schizophrenia