Inaccurate stereotypes and erroneous beliefs abound concerning schizophrenia. Stanford psychiatrist Jacob Ballon, MD, dispelled a few of these myths in a recent article in Everyday Health. Here are a few takeaways and a bit of basic info regarding the disease:
- There is an underlying, complex genetic component to schizophrenia that is not understood well enough to provide a diagnosis or guide treatment.
- Schizophrenics do not have multiple personalities -- that is called dissociative identity disorder.
- Most cases of schizophrenia develop between adolescence and age 30; children rarely develop schizophrenia.
- People with schizophrenia as a group are not more prone to violent behavior. Although there is an association between violence and schizophrenia, the additional risk is largely due to substance abuse.
- People with schizophrenia have a significantly higher risk of suicide and depression.
- People with schizophrenia can have delusions and hallucinations. A delusion is a belief and a hallucination is a sensory experience, like a vision. Delusions can include persecutory delusions of feeling watched or followed, thoughts of feeling contaminated or delusions of grandeur. If you are with someone with schizophrenia, keep in mind that the delusion or hallucination is very real to them.
- Movement can be affected and people with schizophrenia may have difficulty speaking or struggle to pay attention or remember things. Their decision-making may also be compromised.
- Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, there are effective treatments, including psychotherapy and medications.
- Starting treatment soon after the disease develops is thought to be the most beneficial.
"There are a number of people who are treated for schizophrenia and are doing quite well," said Ballon in the article. He added, "If people are able to participate in psychotherapy, they can better extend the value of the medication and also apply some helpful principles to actual experiences in their life. I want people to get help and support with school and employment because I believe they'll be able to get back on an upward trajectory much more quickly if they get help at an early stage."
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