5 Important facts about schizophrenia that you should know

For those of you who are still unfamiliar with schizophrenia, you might call them a "crazy person" because they often find it difficult to control their emotions and often hallucinate themselves. In fact, schizophrenia is not that simple. So, before concluding further about schizophrenia, it's good for you to first know the various facts about this mental illness.

Get to know a variety of interesting facts about schizophrenia

1. People with schizophrenia do not commit violence or other crimes

Most of the roles of crazy people in movies, soap operas, and TV shows are depicted as evil people who often commit violence or other crimes. In fact, the schizophrenic person who is usually labeled "crazy" is not the case.

Indeed, they can suddenly take unexpected actions under certain conditions. However, these actions are usually not violence, crime, or other negative things. A study published in Law and Human Behavior in 2014, found important facts about schizophrenia.

The results of the study stated that of about 429 crimes and non-crimes committed by people with any mental illness, only 4 percent or about 17 cases were caused by people with schizophrenia.

Regardless of a person's mental condition, most criminal cases are generally caused by the use of illegal drugs, poverty, unemployment, etc. which are rarely related to psychology. In short, having schizophrenia does not necessarily make a person dangerous and should be avoided.

2. Although there is no cure, schizophrenia can be controlled

Until now, there is no really effective drug to treat schizophrenia until it is completely cured. But at least, there are still medication and routine care to prevent schizophrenia from recurring frequently.

Launching from the Mayo Clinic page, consumption of antipsychotic drugs and doing psychotherapy can help manage schizophrenia. Psychotherapy is arguably one of the main components in the treatment of schizophrenia.

This therapy will train the self-ability of people with schizophrenia, so that they can continue to have a productive and independent life. In addition, support from people around them also contributes positive energy to managing the health conditions of people with schizophrenia.

3. Schizophrenia is more common in men than women

Data from WHO shows that there are about 23 million people worldwide who have schizophrenia. Of this total, as many as 12 million sufferers are men, while the remaining 9 million are women. Health experts are still unable to provide a more in-depth explanation of this.

Even so, there is one theory that explains this fact about schizophrenia. Apparently, high levels of the hormone estrogen in the female body are involved in helping prevent imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain). For example, dopamine and glutamate are involved in schizophrenia.

4. In contrast to multiple personalities, a person with schizophrenia only has one personality

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that makes the sufferer unable to distinguish between real and imaginary. Even so, schizophrenia is not the same as multiple personalities or multiple personalities (multiple personalities).

Again, schizophrenia will only cause the sufferer to experience hallucinations and delusions due to disturbances in the process of thinking, communicating, and behaving. Meanwhile, people who have two or more personalities will usually show their different attitudes in turn.

5. Not all people with schizophrenia experience the same symptoms

Most of you may think that the symptoms of schizophrenia that all sufferers experience are always the same. In fact, all people with schizophrenia are unique. Why?

Because some sufferers may experience acute psychosis, while others may only experience hallucinations or delusions. This is because schizophrenia is a psychiatric problem that allows the condition to develop in different ways for each sufferer.

In essence, of the many signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, not all of them are experienced by sufferers. Conversely, there are also schizophrenics who experience almost or even all of the symptoms.