Living with Schizophrenia

Myth: A person with schizophrenia has a ‘split personality’ or multiple personality.

Fact: Multiple personality disorder is a different and much less common disorder then schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia do not have split personalities. Rather, they are “split off” from reality.

Myth: Schizophrenia is a rare condition.

Fact: Schizophrenia is not rare; the lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia is widely accepted to be around 1 in 100.

Myth: People with schizophrenia are dangerous.

Fact: Although the delusional thoughts and hallucinations of schizophrenia sometimes lead to violent behavior, most people with schizophrenia are neither violent nor a danger to others.

Myth: People with schizophrenia can’t be helped.

Fact: While long-term treatment may be required, the outlook for schizophrenia is not hopeless. When treated properly, many people with schizophrenia are able to enjoy life and function within their families and communities. 

Myth: The medications that treat schizophrenia stop working over time

Fact: This is one of the most destructive misconceptions about this condition, because it implies that even successful treatments only work for a while. The truth is that using medication to treat psychiatric illness is always a trial and error effort, and medications and dosages have to be adjusted frequently to compensate for changes in people’s body chemistry, lifestyle, diet, age and many other factors.