Mental illness has long been misunderstood by the general public. Disorders of all kinds are stigmatized, which causes undue suffering, confusion, and complications. Pervasive negative stereotypes can be found in media, such as movies and television, to public discourse. Schizophrenia is no different.
Schizophrenia in the Media
The way mental illnesses are portrayed in the public arena is hugely influential on public perception. Unless viewers work in the world of mental health or personally know someone with schizophrenia, negative and inaccurate portrayals of schizophrenia in media are often the only encounter viewers have with the condition. This sets a dangerous precedent for those who have schizophrenia in reality and struggle with the public’s perception of the condition.
One study evaluated 41 movies in which a character was portrayed as having schizophrenia, nearly all white and male. Nearly one-third of the characters were portrayed as homicidal, and nearly all characters were violent either toward themselves or others. Indeed, Hollywood has long associated mental illness with violence or the idea of the “homicidal maniac” with the rise of slasher films.
Approximately 25% of the characters were suicidal. Although most of the movies did not show or discuss causation of the condition, the ones that did implied a traumatic experience played a part in the character’s condition. Other common symptoms depicted were delusions, followed by auditory and visual hallucinations. In addition, these movies suggest that anyone with mental disorders such as schizophrenia are required to not only disclose this information to those around them, but also be defined as an individual by their conditions. In fact, all the viewer may see of a character’s life with mental illness is related to their condition, rather than portraying a full and complete life despite it.
The Academy Award winning film “A Beautiful Mind” explores many of these tropes within the realm of schizophrenia from the perspective of John Nash, a real-world Nobel Memorial Prize winner in Economic Sciences in 1994. Throughout the film, Nash experiences the common signs of schizophrenia including social isolation, self-harm, delusions, disorientation, hallucinations and incoherent speech patterns. Although Nash is portrayed as sometimes dangerous and incapable of living a normal life, through the use of therapy and medications over time, Nash made measurable improvement in cognitive awareness over his mental illness.
Nash’s schizophrenic reality was ultimately conquered throughout the course of his life through therapeutic treatments and medications, but never fully desisted. In his own words, he attributed his delusions as “essentially a hopeless waste of intellectual effort” after acknowledging the signs and symptoms associated with his hallucinations. However turbulent his life may have been, this remarkable thinker highlights the success of patients capable of overcoming the sensationalized representation of schizophrenia in most media.
The Reality of Schizophrenia
Myths perpetuated by the media are damaging to the public sphere. Most characters in movies are portrayed as violent, homicidal, suicidal, having multiple personalities, and frequently experiencing delusions, visual hallucinations and auditory hallucinations. However, this is far from the reality that many people experience with schizophrenia.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, the most stark difference between the media and reality is the quality of life that can be achieved. Nearly all characters portrayed with schizophrenia lead complicated lives, often suffering and controlled by their mental illness. The reality is people with schizophrenia, with the help of treatment, are able to live a happy, healthy lifestyle.
The symptoms most commonly associated with schizophrenia off the silver screen are obscured speech patterns, inability to follow through with activities, struggling to remember information, and other cognitive symptoms. Hallucinations and delusions are symptoms of schizophrenia, but do not occur as often or as dramatized as they appear in films and television.
When it comes to violence, people with schizophrenia are often more likely to be the victim than they are the perpetrator. Another 2001 study found a sample size of individuals with schizophrenia were more than 14 times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than be arrested for one.
The idea of split personalities or multiple personalities has long been associated with schizophrenia. However, this is an entirely misplaced symptom and is much more representative of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
While nearly every character in movies with schizophrenia is a white male, this is not representative of the real statistics. Schizophrenia affects men and women equally, but more often appears in Black communities. By presenting the illness otherwise, individuals may misunderstand their risk of the condition and not be as inclined to seek treatment.
The risk factors associated with schizophrenia do not often include traumatic life events as movies suggest. The most common risk factors include exposure to specific viruses or malnutrition during pregnancy, imbalances in brain chemistry, potentially substance use, and genetics. In fact, those with a parent, sibling, or other close relative with schizophrenia are more than six times as likely to develop the disorder. However, the condition remains rare in the United States, with estimates ranging from 0.25% to 0.64%.
Treatment
Diagnosing schizophrenia can be difficult, as individuals may suffer from lack of self-awareness of their symptoms due to cognitive issues. However, effective and multipronged treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, and patient education to help individuals better understand their condition.
The key to successful treatment is early detection and a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan under the care of experienced professionals. Our team at API has over 35 years of experience treating mental health disorders, including schizophrenia. If you or a loved one is interested in treatment or have additional questions, visit our Schizophrenia Treatment page for more information.
