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Seeing the light on mental illness

Schizophrenia - Nothing like the movies

by Salaamedia Intern
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that has many negative stigmas attached to it due to the media Photo Pexels

South Africa – Schizophrenia is a mental health condition. It affects a significant amount of people. Although not as many as other mental health conditions, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people (0.32%) worldwide suffer from it.

Most people are introduced to schizophrenia through the media. It is very seldom you encounter someone with it. The stereotypes surrounding it make it harder for someone to talk about. Based on the knowledge of Zakiyah Hoosen, a registered counsellor, schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder.

“The disorder is a complex one and is believed to exist on a spectrum. Other forms of schizophrenia include schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder. Schizophreniform disorder and schizoaffective disorder are categorised under psychotic disorders.” 

 

Symptoms and possible cause of schizophrenia 

There are a wide range of symptoms associated with schizophrenia. For someone to be diagnosed with schizophrenia at least two or more of these symptoms must be present for a significant period of time during a 1-month period, explained Hoosen.

“Schizophrenia is commonly characterised by intense hallucinations (auditory or visual), coupled with symptoms including severe delusions, disorganised speech and thought patterns, abnormal behaviour or motor behaviour, and negative symptoms … Additionally, from the time of onset of these disturbance symptoms, the level of functioning must be markedly below the level of functioning prior to the onset.”

However, for schizophreniform disorder – symptoms must be present for up to 1 month, but less than 6 months. Schizoaffective disorder is characterised with a major mood disorder (manic or depressive episode), explained Hoosen.

When it comes to Schizotypal personality disorder the symptoms are different. Since it is termed under personality disorders, it is marked by the following criteria:

“A pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits from acute discomfort of close interpersonal relationships, as well as cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behaviour which begin by early adulthood and are present in most contexts, indicated by some of the following: odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences, paranoid ideation, eccentric/odd/peculiar behaviour, inappropriate or constricted affect etc.”

Although schizophrenia has been around for quite some time, no exact cause for it has been found. Schizophrenia can be caused by a wide variety of different things including a genetic predisposition to the illness, problems with brain chemistry, and environmental factors.

“The World Health Organisation indicates that schizophrenia could be caused by some abnormality in the genes and the interaction of environmental factors. There is no one cause found for schizophrenia. Psychosocial factors may also affect the onset and course of schizophrenia.”

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Schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder

One of the symptoms of the mental health disorder is one tends to have auditory hallucinations. This has pushed the notion that schizophrenia is the same as multiple personality disorder. Although some similarities exist such as impaired thought patterns, impaired behaviour, they are both distinct disorders.

“Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are marked by the onset of disturbance symptoms as previously discussed. Dissociative personality disorder is characterised by disruption of identity characterised by two or more personality states, recurrent gaps in recalling daily events, important or personal information and or/traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting. The symptoms also cause significant distress or impairment in social, personal, or occupational areas of functioning, are not a result of any effects of a physiological substance, and these disturbances are not attributed to an accepted cultural or religious practice.”

 

Violence is not common among individuals with schizophrenia 

Media tends to play a huge role in our lives. In the way we see and portray things, to the way we understand certain conditions. For a large part, schizophrenia has been portrayed as a very violent disorder. This has led people to have this notion that everyone who has this disorder is violent. This is extremely far from the truth and often people with the disorder are victims of violence.

“All individuals who suffer from schizophrenia are not dangerous and violent. However, individuals with schizophrenia are more prone to violent or dangerous behaviour if they are using or were using any substances. Individuals who suffer from this order also experience a higher rate of suicidal ideation. In fact, WHO reports that persons with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence, and violation of human rights in some places.”

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Living a normal life is very much possible

Coming back to the media, characters with schizophrenia are often found in mental institutions or portrayed as violent individuals or individuals who are a shell of their former self. This representation has caused society to believe individuals with schizophrenia can’t have a normal life or hold down a job. This is not the case

“Individuals with schizophrenia are able to maintain a healthy functioning in most areas of life, including social, occupational, and personal if they remain consistent with their treatment and psychotherapy. A supportive family and friend network is believed to be a huge advantage since it prevents the individual from “spiralling”.

According to an article in the Current Opinion in Psychiatry, working appears to be beneficial to those with schizophrenia. Recent advances in vocational rehabilitation have been shown to be effective. Research now supports the concept that empowerment is part of the recovery process.

 

There are treatments for schizophrenia 

Schizophrenia is also classified as a chronic condition. As such, there is no known cure available. However, this does not mean there are no viable treatments. As the world evolves, more and more is being learnt about the mental health disorder and treatments are available.

“Schizophrenia is largely treated with a combination of medication such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, and continued psychotherapy. Additionally, treatment includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, family intervention therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation (teaching life and motor skills). A combination of these is believed to be the most common form of treatment.”

Research done by the American Psychological Association shows that a quarter of young people recover when treated within six to two years. Another 35 to 40% percent improve enough after long-term treatment to live normal lives with just minor symptoms recurring. 

 

Schizophrenia has no bearing on the intelligence of a person

Once again, the media has created and pushed a notion that those with schizophrenia are not smart and not creative in any way. These notions continue to be pushed and are now set in stone in the minds of people. Although disorganised speech patterns may result in one thinking an individual is not smart, this is not the case.

“It is possible that due to a common symptom of disorganised speech and thought patterns, that individuals with schizophrenia are considered “not smart”. However, this may not be true since a possible reason for this disorganised speech or thought pattern could be influenced by impairment in functioning, genes, psychosocial factors, or a combination of these. This should be considered case-by-case since there are different forms of intelligence, including intellectual, social, and emotional intelligences.”

In fact, there are many individuals who were diagnosed with schizophrenia and did wonderful things. People like John Nash Jr, who by the age of 30 was known as one of the world’s most brilliant mathematicians. He also won a Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994. Experts also agree the man who discovered gravity, Sir Isaac Newton, also had schizophrenia. Two-time Super Bowl champion, Lionel Aldridge, also suffered from schizophrenia. The disorder is no indicator of one’s mental capacity.

 

People with schizophrenia do not need to be in a mental institute forever

There is a notion that the best place for an individual with schizophrenia is a mental institution or long-term hospitalisation. Not only is this false but the notion itself creates this belief that those who suffer from it are insane or worse. While hospitalisation and admittance to a mental institute can help, one does not need to be there permanently.

“Clinical treatment at a mental health or psychiatric facility could significantly improve the individual’s ability to cope with this disorder. However, other factors are taken into consideration such as degree of impairment to functioning (social, occupational, personal), ability to self-harm or cause harm to others, the presence of active or negative symptoms (see above) etc. Patients who are diagnosed with complex mental disorders such as this one, are regularly assessed and evaluated by a variety of clinical practitioners and released into the community is subject to the clinician’s recommendation.”

Currently, treatment is now moving away from long-term hospitalisation and more towards outpatient treatment. Individuals who spend longer times in hospitals and mental institutions could be due to a lack of support on the outside.

 

Removing the stigmas and stereotypes 

It is vital for us as a society to look beyond what the media is showing us. Oftentimes, it is due to these misconceptions a person may feel less comfortable about seeking help which will only lead to them damaging their lives further. It is up to us to educate ourselves and understand what schizophrenia is. It is only through acquiring knowledge and understanding the disorder that we can finally remove the terrible stigmas and stereotypes.

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