MYTH or FACT
There are two different types of schizoaffective disorder
FACT. Schizoaffective disorder can be depressive type or bipolar type (with mania)
Name 3 symptoms of schizophrenia
Hallucinations, Delusions, Disorganised thinking, Lack of motivation, Slow movement, Change in sleep patterns, Poor grooming or hygiene, Changes in body language and emotions.
True of False: Treatment looks the same for everyone
False! Treatment should be based on individual needs
True or False: Movies and TV usually represent schizophrenia in a positive way
False, media often shows schizophrenia in a negative way and reinforces stereotypes
What is the most stigmatized mental illness in society?
Schizophrenia
If a parent has schizophrenia, you'll get it too
MYTH Genes do play a role, but just because one of your parents has this mental illness doesn't mean you're destined to get it. You might have a slightly higher risk, but scientists don’t think genes are the only cause.
What are the 5 types of hallucinations?
Visual (sight), auditory (sound), tactile (touch), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste)
Name one example of a treatment used for psychosis
Medication, therapy, lifestyle changes
True or False: TV and movies often represent people with schizophrenia as criminal and violent.
True! This is the most common misrepresentation of schizophrenia in media
What causes stigma?
Stigma usually stems from ignorance, prejudice, or fear.
MYTH - although psychosis can be drug-induced in rare cases, schizophrenia is caused by a combination of many factors including genetics, trauma, and brain anatomy
What is the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder?
Schizoaffective disorder involves symptoms of schizophrenia PLUS symptoms of a mood disorder
True or false: Early treatment often means better recovery for psychosis
True!
What symptom is most commonly shown in media about schizophrenia?
Visual hallucinations are overrepresented in media, despite negative symptoms being much more common
Why is it harmful to call people "psycho" or "psychotic" as an insult?
It creates negative stereotypes about people who actually have psychosis
Symptoms of schizophrenia can show up slowly over time
FACT - Some people have a big mental event that leads to a schizophrenia diagnosis. But symptoms can appear over time and are hard to notice. If you have early symptoms of schizophrenia, you might: Be less social, show less interest in normal activities, or withdraw from everyday life
Explain the difference between "positive" and "negative" symptoms
Positive symptoms add something that is not there (i.e hallucinations and delusions) and negative symptoms take away something that should be (i.e mood, speech, cognition)
Name 3 people that might be part of a recovery-oriented team
Client, family members, doctors, psychiatrist, therapist, social worker
Suggest one way that media about psychosis could be improved
1) Showing more symptoms and representing characters more accurately 2) including psychologists or people with schizophrenia in the writing and production of movies 3) avoiding harmful stereotypes 4) show the strengths and resilience of people with psychosis
Name 2 consequences of stigma
Avoiding diagnosis and treatment, social isolation, negative feelings towards self, suicide, fewer job opportunities, and more
Psychosis is a possible symptom of many physical health conditions
FACT - Psychosis can be a symptom of dementia, meningitis, brain injury, stroke, sleep disorders, and much more
Explain the difference between hallucinations and delusions
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that are not actually happening, and delusions are unrealistic beliefs
What type of medication is used to treat schizophrenia
Antipsychotics
Such as Aripiprazole (Abilify), Clozapine (Clozaril), Quetiapine (Seroquel), and Risperidone (Risperdal), and more!
Can you name a movie that shows a character with psychosis or schizophrenia?
A Beautiful Mind, The Soloist, Black Swan, Girl Interrupted, Donnie Darko, Spider, Split, Clean Shaven, and more!
Suggest 2 ways to reduce stigma about psychotic disorders
Educating people about the disorders, combatting stereotypes that these people are "dangerous" or "crazy", better media representations, showing kindness and compassion to people with psychotic disorders, and more