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The Common Myths and Misconceptions about Schizophrenia

Posted 18th July 2019 by jon in Blog

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental illness which has a range of psychological symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and is often referred to by doctors as a type of psychosis.

There are numerous myths and misconceptions about Schizophrenia. Below, we separate the myths from the facts to help you to understand more about the condition.

MYTH 1 – SCHIZOPHRENIA MEANS YOU HAVE A SPLIT PERSONALITY

One of the popular misconceptions about schizophrenia is that it involves having a split personality. This is often believed because the Greek word for schizophrenia means ‘split’ and ‘mind’. However this does not mean having a split personality, but instead a split from reality.

MYTH 2 – PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA ARE VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS

Violence is not a symptom of schizophrenia, but a small number of people do become violent when they are suffering from the symptoms of psychosis which can cause hallucinations and delusions to influence their thinking. When under treatment, people with schizophrenia are no more violent than the rest of the population.

MYTH 3 – YOU CAN’T RECOVER FROM SCHIZOPHRENIA

While it is true that there is no cure for schizophrenia, there are effective treatments that can help those suffering from the illness to lead normal lives. Around 25% of people who suffer from schizophrenia will go on to recover without any more problems in the future.

MYTH 4 – SCHIZOPHRENIA IS JUST ABOUT HEARING VOICES

People commonly associate schizophrenia with hearing voices. Auditory hallucinations are one of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia however, there are eight types of schizophrenia all of which with different characteristics. Some of the less known symptoms of schizophrenia can include change in sleep patterns, losing interest in socialising or interests and a lack of motivation.

MYTH 5 – SCHIZOPHRENIA IS RARE

People often believe schizophrenia is one of the less common types of mental illness. However, schizophrenia is a relatively common illness with around 24 million sufferers worldwide and 220,000 sufferers in the UK.

For more information about the misconceptions of schizophrenia, visit the following website links:

To find out more about schizophrenia, take a look at our schizophrenia and psychosis page or if you feel as if you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, book an appointment today.

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