#Latest Articles Ask-an-Expert Families Speak Up Recent Events Child Mind Institute In the News Press Mention Child Mind Institute Logo * Request an Appointment * Patient Portal * + Facebook + Twitter + Google+ * Sign In * ____________________ Search * Email Sign Up * Donate ____________________ __________ Submit Cancel * Tools & Resources + Mental Health Guide + Symptom Checker + Developmental Milestones + Quick Facts + Glossary + Other Resources + Parents Guide to Getting Good Care + Guía para Padres para Obtener Cuidados de Calidad * Get Informed + Brainstorm Blog + Ask an Expert + Families Speak Up + Free Workshops + Childmind.org en Español + Topics * Find Treatment + Our Care + Our Approach + Clinician Directory + What to Expect + Request an Appointment + Who Else Can Help? * Science & Innovation + Center for the Developing Brain + Healthy Brain Network + Clinical Innovation + Science Team Directory + Scientific Research Council + Distinguished Scientist Award + Rising Scientist Award * Get Involved + Give + Shop Gifts That Give Back + Get Connected + Jobs & Volunteering + Student Art Project + Speak Up for Kids + Events * About Us + Executive Team + Board of Directors + Scientific Research Council + Clinician Directory + Science Team Directory + General Directory + Corporate Partnerships + Annual Report + Take a Virtual Tour + Press Room + Contact Us Tools & Resources * Mental Health Guide * Symptom Checker * Developmental Milestones + Milestones at 1 Month + Milestones at 3 Months + Milestones at 7 Months + Milestones at 1 Year + Milestones at 2 Years + Milestones at 4 Years + Milestones at 5 Years * Quick Facts * Glossary * Other Resources * Parents Guide to Getting Good Care + Does My Child Need Help? + Who Can Help with Diagnosis? + What Should I Look For in Diagnosis? + Who Can Help with Treatment? + What Should I Ask Before Beginning Treatment? + How Do I Know If I'm Getting Good Treatment? + What If My Child Has More Than One Disorder? + What About Problems With Diagnosis or Treatment? + What About Alternative Treatments? + What Should I Do If My Child Has Learning Issues? + How Do I Get School Services For My Child? + Guide to Mental Health Specialists + Guide to Learning Specialists + Guide to Evidence-Based Treatments * Guía para Padres para Obtener Cuidados de Calidad + ¿Mi Hijo Necesita Ayuda? + ¿Quién Puede Ayudarle con un Diagnóstico? + ¿Qué Debo Buscar en un Diagnóstico? + ¿Quién Puede Ayudarle con el Tratamiento? + ¿Qué Pregunto Antes de Comenzar un Tratamiento? + ¿Estoy Recibiendo un Buen Tratamiento? + ¿Y si mi Hijo Tiene más de un Desorden? + ¿Problemas con Diagnóstico y Tratamiento? + ¿Tratamientos Alternativos? + ¿Y si Mi Hijo Tiene Problemas de Aprendizaje? + ¿Cómo Puedo Obtener Servicios en la Escuela? + Guía de Especialistas de la Salud Mental + Guía de Especialistas de Aprendizaje + Guía de Tratamientos Basados en la Evidencia Quick Facts Myths About Schizophrenia Mental Health Guide Childhood and adolescent psychiatric and learning disorders, from A to Z. Get Started Ask a Question Have something you’d like an expert to answer on childmind.org? Your personal information will not be shared on the site. Ask us The Child Mind BlogBrainstorm * Vaccines, Measles, and Roald Dahl Feb. 3, 2015 Caroline Miller * What Jennifer Aniston's Dyslexia Can Teach Us Jan. 27, 2015 Harry Kimball * ‘Parenthood’ Wishes Aspie Max a Bright Future Jan. 23, 2015 Beth Arky More People with schizophrenia have "split personalities." "Split personalities" or "multiple personalities" are not a symptom of schizophrenia; in fact, these symptoms indicate a different mental illness called dissociative identity disorder. A child with schizophrenia may react inappropriately to situations, but that reflects distorted thinking, hallucinations or delusions. People with schizophrenia are dangerous. A few people with schizophrenia suffer from delusions that make them prone to violent outbursts, but the vast majority of people with this disorder tend to withdraw when they become symptomatic. People with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence or suicide than harmful to other people. Substance abuse, along with schizophrenia, increases the risk of aggressive behavior. Schizophrenia comes on suddenly. In fact there are early signs of developing schizophrenia that tend to appear during adolescence, though they may not be recognized: declining school work, difficulties with friends and family, problems with organizing information. An individual may not hear voices, but might hear whispers, which he can't make out. All people with schizophrenia see things that aren't there. About a fifth of people with schizophrenia have visual hallucinations, but hearing voices is much more common, occurring in 70 percent of people with the disorder. A few also experience tactile hallucinations or odd smells. If one of your parents has schizophrenia, you probably will too. A family history of schizophrenia does increase your risk of developing it, but not as dramatically as most people think. With no family history, you have a 1 percent risk of developing schizophrenia. Your risk rises to 2 percent if someone in your extended family has it—an aunt, uncle or cousin. If one of your parents has it, 10 percent. An identical twin with the disorder gives you a 50 percent risk of developing it, too. Schizophrenia is purely genetic. Along with genetics, research has shown that stress and family environment can play a role in triggering psychosis. A household with a lot of expressed affect—conflict and emotional drama—can increase risks. Schizophrenia is untreatable. Schizophrenia is not curable, but with consistent medication and other therapy it is a manageable chronic illness, like diabetes or heart disease. People with schizophrenia can't lead normal lives. Wrong. With medication and behavioral treatment to learn to manage symptoms, people can, indeed, live productive, happy lives. Medications turn people with schizophrenia into zombies. If a person with schizophrenia who's on anti-psychotic medication is lethargic and listless, it's a result of either the schizophrenia itself or overmedication. For a complete guide to schizophrenia, see our Mental Health Guide. * Home * Press Room * Contact Us * Privacy * Site Map * Terms of Use Copyright © 2015 All rights reserved * General Inquiries Call 212.308.3118 * 445 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 * + RSS + Facebook + Twitter + Google+ + Flickr + YouTube close Already a member?Sign in. Username ____________________ Password ____________________ Forgot your password? Remember Me [_] Login New user? Join the childmind.org online community! 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