| |
For
Families and Friends
A Message for Caregivers
A Message for Teens
Arm Yourself with the Facts
Consequences of Stigma
Myths About Schizophrenia
What Causes Schizophrenia?
How the Brain Operates
The Course and Outcome
Stepping Stones to Recovery
Reintegration
The Stereotype of Violence
Schizophrenia at School,
Work, and in Relationships
Links to Other Resources
|
Myth / People with schizophrenia are likely
to be violent.
Fact / Mental disorders and violence are
closely linked in the public mind. Sensationalized reporting by the media
(when was the last time you read a headline, "Sane Man Murders Family
of Four"?) bears much of the blame, as do television and movie portrayals
of crazed axe murderers. Another contributing factor is the popular misuse
of psychiatric terms like "psychotic" and "psychopathic."
The stereotype of the violent mental patient causes public fear and avoidance
of the mentally ill.
People with mental illness in general are
no more dangerous than healthy individuals from the same population. Individuals
with schizophrenia do show a slightly elevated rate of crimes of violence,
but such acts are almost always committed by those who are not receiving
proper treatment. In fact, people with schizophrenia are far more likely
to be violent toward themselves than toward others. Forty to fifty percent
of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide; ten percent succeed.
Eight Things to Keep in Mind About the Stereotype
of Violence:
- Treatment dramatically reduces the risk of violence. Early treatment
may also help with the confusion and suffering that occur when there
is a complete psychotic break.
- The risk of violence is not necessarily due to schizophrenia, but
rather to a combination of disorders.
- The contribution of those with schizophrenia to the overall incidence
of crime is relatively small.
- The violence associated with schizophrenia is most often directed
at a family member and in fact more likely to injure themselves.
- People with schizophrenia do not pose a risk to children.
- Risk of violence in those with schizophrenia appears to be very similar
to that in the healthy population, when substance abuse is factored
out.
- Risk of sexual offenses associated with schizophrenia is low.
- Only a small percentage of those with schizophrenia are responsible
for the violent behavior that occurs in association with the disorder.
_______________________
|
Return