Myths and Facts about Schizophrenia

There’s a lot of incorrect info out there about schizophrenia. Some of it is spread by movies or TV shows. Or sometimes, people use stereotypes that promote stigma when talking about this mental illness.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects your ability to think and act clearly. When you have schizophrenia, your brain often tells you you’re seeing things or hearing voices that aren’t there. This makes it hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t. It also affects how well you think, make decisions, and manage your emotions.

If you get schizophrenia, you might have:

Myth No. 1: It means you have dissociative identity disorder (DID). This is one of the biggest misunderstandings about schizophrenia. One poll found that 64% of Americans believe the condition involves DID, which means someone acts like they’re two or more separate people.

Myth No. 2: Most people with schizophrenia are violent or dangerous. In movies and TV shows, who is the crazed killer? Often it’s the character with this condition. That’s not typically the case in real life.

Even though people with schizophrenia can act unpredictably at times, most aren’t violent, especially if they’re getting treated. People with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence. They’re also more likely to harm themselves than others — suicide rates among people with schizophrenia are high.

Myth No. 3: Bad parenting is the cause. Mothers, in particular, often get blamed.

But schizophrenia is a mental illness. It has many causes, including genes, trauma, and drug abuse. Mistakes you’ve made as a parent won’t give your child this condition.

Myth No. 4: If a parent has schizophrenia, you’ll get it, too. Genes do play a role. But just because one of your parents has this mental illness doesn’t mean you’re destined to get it. You might have a slightly higher risk, but scientists don’t think genes are the only cause. Certain viruses, not getting enough nutrition before you’re born, and other things play a role in turning on the genes.

If one parent has schizophrenia, your risk of getting the condition is about 10%. Having more than one family member with it raises your risk.

Myth No. 5: People with schizophrenia aren’t smart. Some studies have found that people with the condition have more trouble on tests of mental skills such as attention, learning, and memory. But that doesn’t mean they’re not intelligent.

Many creative and smart people throughout history have had schizophrenia. Scientists are even looking into links between genes that may be related to both psychosis and creativity.

Myth No. 6: If you have schizophrenia, you belong in a mental hospital. There was a time when people with mental illnesses were sent to asylums or even prisons. But now that experts know more about this disease, fewer people need to be placed in long-term mental health facilities.

The level of care you need depends on how severe your symptoms are. Many people with schizophrenia live independently, while some live with their family or in supportive housing in their community. It’s important to be in close contact with your doctor, and to have support in place to help you continue your treatment as needed.

Myth No. 7: You can’t hold a job if you have it. Schizophrenia can make it harder for you to land a job and go to work every day. But with the right treatment, many people can find a position that fits their skills and abilities.

Myth No. 8: Schizophrenia makes people lazy. The illness can make it harder for someone to take care of their daily needs, such as dressing and bathing. This doesn’t mean they’re “lazy.” They just need some help with their daily routine.

Myth No. 9: It can’t be treated. While there’s no known cure for schizophrenia, treatment can help you manage its symptoms and lessen its impact on your life. Antipsychotic medications can help stabilize you and lower the risk of future symptoms. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are also helpful tools that can show you how to handle stress better and live well. But schizophrenia can sometimes get worse over time. Treatment is usually required for the rest of your life.

With treatment, many people with the condition can live full, productive lives.

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