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. However, schizophrenia is a split from reality rather than a split in personality.

Myth: People who have schizophrenia are violent

Fact: People who have schizophrenia are no more likely to be violent than any other group in the community. 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 a lower than average intelligence.

Fact: People with schizophrenia do NOT have a lower than average intelligence level. As with any population, there is a variation, but this is not a characteristic of the illness.