Understanding Schizophrenia Vs. Multiple Personality Disorder

One of the most common misconceptions people have about mental illnesses is that someone with schizophrenia has multiple personality disorder. We often use the terms interchangeably when talking about pop culture references like the movie Sybil or the television show The United States of Tara. However, the issues are actually very different.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia affects how people understand what is real and what isn't. They may feel that their neighbors are constantly spying on them, or they may hear voices. Schizophrenia's complications come about because patients often can't tell if the voices are "real." They may know that the voices are just in their heads, but that doesn't make it easier for them to ignore the suggestions and commands they are told.

Visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions (beliefs not grounded in reality), disorganized thoughts and actions (sometimes manifesting in the inability to speak logically), apparent stoicism, social withdrawal, unpredictable aggression and hostility and other inappropriate responses and actions are hallmarks of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia tends to worsen over time, so patients typically need to get medication and stay on it to avoid symptoms. The exact cause of schizophrenia isn't known, but research indicates brain chemical imbalance as a factor. It appears that both genetics and environment may contribute to schizophrenia.

Multiple Personality Disorder

Multiple personality disorder, on the other hand, is not even accepted by all experts as a real occurrence. Those who do believe describe multiple personality disorder as a dissociative disorder, meaning it is a way people use to escape from reality rather than an inability to tell the difference between reality and fantasy.

More properly termed dissociative identity disorder, multiple personality disorder occurs when people manifest divergent personalities, switching between or among them in times of stress. The personalities may or may not be aware of each other.

Although medication is sometimes part of the treatment for multiple personality disorder, the cause of multiple personality disorder is thought to be trauma rather than physical or genetic issues, so counseling is a more common therapy.

Conclusion

These two mental illnesses do have some similar problems, but they are really very different. Understanding the differences can help clear away some of the misconceptions regarding both schizophrenia and multiple personality dissociative disorder.

References

"Schizophrenia." Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.com.

"Dissociative Disorders." Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.com.