Unit 2 Feeder 2 - Blog Post

Schizophrenia: A Common Misconception

When you think of schizophrenia, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Multiple personalities is the most likely answer you’llget from someone in America. However, schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder, yet many people perceive it that way.

A few misconceived depictions of schizophrenia:

Schizophrenia can be classified “as a psychotic disorder” (Haycock, 2010). This disorder begins in the brain. Whether it is caused mainly by genetics or environmental factors is uncertain, but researchers have determined that these are the likely causes.

Most people in the US confuse schizophrenia with Multiple Personality Disorder (also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder). “MPD is considered a developmental disorder” (Haycock, 2010) and stems mainly from trauma, mostly during childhood.

Many scientists think that the main difference between schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder is that you are not born with MPD.

People that are affected by MPD “have at least two and often more distinct identity states which each have fairly consistent patterns of relating to the environment” (Haycock, 2010). These people have created identity states that are a type of coping mechanism to deal with trauma in their environment.

People affected with schizophrenia can sometimes hear voices in their head, but it's never classified as a personality that they take on. The voices are referred to as auditory hallucinations, however they aren't a separate personality. Also, people affected with schizophrenia will also experience other symptoms such as visual hallucinations, delusions, “disordered thinking, decreased attention span, and problems with focusing” (Madison).

The question at hand still remains the same. Why do people confuse schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder? Well, the thought is mainly “based on the name. If you go to the Greek roots of the word—schizein, meaning splitting and phren, meaning mind—you have ‘split brain’ or ‘split mind.’ However, the intended reference is to a split between rationality and emotions, not a split within a personality” (Haycock, 2010).

I think that psychologists should make an initiative to educate people not only about the differences between schizophrenia and MPD, but about the struggles that these patients face on a daily basis. Many people with mental disorders feel as people are less willing to help them, versus if they had a physical disease, such as cancer. I think that people should start getting the word out about mental illnesses and help make a difference in the lives that these disorders affect.

References:

Haycock, D. A. (2010, Oct 26). What is the difference between schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder?. Retrieved from http://rps.psu.edu/probing/schizophrenia.html

Madison, N., & Harris, B. What is the Difference Between Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-schizophrenia-and-multiple-personality-disorder.htm