7 myths about schizophrenia, in which for a long time do not have to believe

Due to the movies we think that we know everything about schizophrenia. Well, at least, a lot. This impression is deceptive.

1. Schizophrenia - a split personality

Exhausted and terrible hero Jack Nicholson in kubrikovskom "Radiance" from which - yesterday intelligent writer and responsible father - suddenly starts to climb a psychopath killer. Superhero Hulk - the smiling shy nerd, then a dull green giant. You look at these "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and think that everything is clear with schizophrenia. No, not all.

Schizophrenia is not a split personality (for pedants: mental glitch that divides human personality into several, is called dissociative identity disorder, is another violation). It's about the splitting of consciousness.

The person feels a sole and indivisible. But at the same time, for example, in spite of education believes that at night his mind reprogram aliens. Or that love and care about him relatives For many years, every day pour into his food poison. In the mind of a schizophrenic logical connections broken, so in his mind easily get conflicting ideas.

2. Schizophrenics are violent and generally dangerous

For such a stereotype, too, I must say thank you to popular culture.

In fact schizophrenics mostly indecisive and passive nature. This is due to the above-mentioned violations of logical connections. Ill person is difficult to build even a short plan of aggression.

No, schizophrenics (as, indeed, and absolutely all people) are capable of unpredictable actions and flash fury. However, this short-term episodes that usually are not associated with mental illness, and with associated disorders (e.g., alcohol or drug abuse), or the deep trauma.

3. Schizophrenia may develop due to severe stress

Not really. Schizophrenia - a mental illness, to which development results are not one but many coinciding reasonsSchizophrenia:

• genetic predisposition;
• the impact of viruses;
• Individual features of the brain and some failures in its development;
• malnutrition before birth;
• problems during labor and delivery;
• psychosocial factors.

Mistreatment in childhood, as well as stresses in adulthood, they are not independent of the trigger mental disorders. Ill may only those who are so inclined.

4. Schizophrenia is inherited

Although genetics plays a role in the development of the disorder, but researchers have not yet determined what it was. Indeed, schizophrenia sometimes passed on from generation to generation. But it can not be called a rigid rule.

It happens that schizophrenia is diagnosed in a patient, in whose family stories no hint of mental disorders. Or, on the contrary, the disease passes the human side of the seemingly doomed - having many schizophrenic relatives.

researchers believeSchizophreniaThat there are genes and their combinations, which under certain conditions may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. However, no specific gene that clearly would cause disease.

5. People with schizophrenia are more stupid than the rest

We suffer from this disorder do have some problems with logic, concentration, memory. So the classic IQ they may be (but not necessarily) smallish. However, the level of intellectual development is not limited to the rational part. species intelligence - set and set of talents schizophrenics can give odds to many healthy.

Suffice it to recall, for example, Nobel laureate, mathematician and economist John Forbes Nash - the creator of the legendary game theory. Or an outstanding dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky. Or the artist Vincent Van Gogh. Or Philip K. Dick - science fiction writer, in whose books were filmed blockbusters "Blade Runner"And" Total Recall. " The diagnosis has not prevented them to achieve success and make an impressive contribution to the development of science and culture.

6. People with schizophrenia are lazy and untidy

Yes, among schizophrenics, there are those who find it difficult to take care of myself, to monitor hygiene or, say, pick up a rational wardrobe. However, this does not mean that people are lazy. They just sometimes need help with things that seem mundane to others.

7. Schizophrenia can not be cured

Indeed, the cure for schizophrenia science is not yet invented. But developed quite effective therapeutic and medical methods of correction.

According to9 Schizophrenia Myths and Facts authoritative medical Internet resource WebMD, with competent and timely therapy, about 25% of those who were diagnosed with "schizophrenia", fully restored. Another 50% showed a significant improvement of symptoms, allowing them to live a normal, healthy and productive lives.