Myths and Facts

Myth: Schizophrenia is a split personality

Fact: People with schizophrenia have only ONE personality. The word 'schizophrenia' comes from the Greek word meaning 'split' and this is perhaps where the confusion started.

Myth: People who have schizophrenia are violent

Fact: People who have schizophrenia are unlikely to be violent and are frequently the victims of violence. This  is another very common and unfounded myth which is exacerbated by the media. There is, however, an increased risk of self-harm among people with schizophrenia. Often, because of the nature of the illness, violence is self-directed either through fear, delusional thinking or the decision to 'no longer cope' with the illness. It is fair to say that a person with schizophrenia has more to fear from the general community than the reverse, as they are often on the receiving end of quite severe stigmatisation, misunderstanding and outright discrimination.

Myth: People with schizophrenia are developmentally delayed

Fact: People with schizophrenia are NOT developmentally delayed. This myth has its basis in the treatment programs in the 1960s. During this period, people with a developmental delay and people with a mental illness were placed in asylums together and this is probably where the confusion arose.

Myth: People with schizophrenia have low intelligence

Fact: People with schizophrenia are not low in intelligence. As with any population, there is a variation, but this is not a characteristic of the illness. People with schizophrenia have won the Nobel Prize.