Quick Facts
Myths About Schizophrenia
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.
