Schizophrenia: A Beautiful Fight Julia Berkelhammer, Angel Cockerham, Michelle Kasprak, Alyssa Tedder, and Taylor Warren

Schizophrenia as a Popular, yet Largely Misunderstood Disorder Often, most of what we think we know about schizophrenia, comes directly from movies, books, or what we see on TV. Often, most of what we think we know about schizophrenia, comes directly from movies, books, or what we see on TV. However, the once dominant forms of oral tradition, written record, and literature are slowly being replaced by the quicker, more instantaneous gratification offered by emergent forms like film. However, the once dominant forms of oral tradition, written record, and literature are slowly being replaced by the quicker, more instantaneous gratification offered by emergent forms like film. And along with this dynamism and transience comes great risk, as the same stories are inevitably presented differently across the broad landscape of storytelling media. And along with this dynamism and transience comes great risk, as the same stories are inevitably presented differently across the broad landscape of storytelling media. With such rapid change we might fail to recognize the ways in which these stories can alter, enhance, and even distort our perceptions of the world around us. With such rapid change we might fail to recognize the ways in which these stories can alter, enhance, and even distort our perceptions of the world around us.

Implications Schizophrenia has at long last been thrust into the public spotlight. Schizophrenia has at long last been thrust into the public spotlight. However, this has not come without inherent limitations, in addition to numerous reinforced misconceptions. However, this has not come without inherent limitations, in addition to numerous reinforced misconceptions. As these works negotiate the fine line between entertainment and reality, we have found that their accuracy and commentary varies greatly—as there are some things these texts do very well, and some things which distort the true nature of schizophrenia. As these works negotiate the fine line between entertainment and reality, we have found that their accuracy and commentary varies greatly—as there are some things these texts do very well, and some things which distort the true nature of schizophrenia.

5/20/ The True Story of Schizophrenia What it is, What it isn’t….

5/20/ Basic Facts One of the top 10 causes of disability in developed countries One of the top 10 causes of disability in developed countries Lifetime prevalence is 1% of population Lifetime prevalence is 1% of population Twice as prevalent as Alzheimer’s disease and equally as prevalent as autism Twice as prevalent as Alzheimer’s disease and equally as prevalent as autism No known cause or cure No known cause or cure Manageable with pharmaceutical therapy Manageable with pharmaceutical therapy Emerges between for men and women Emerges between for men and women

5/20/ Symptoms Delusions Delusions Hallucinations Hallucinations Confused speech Confused speech Grossly disorganized behavior Grossly disorganized behavior Analgesia: inability to feel pleasure Analgesia: inability to feel pleasure Avolotion: lack of motivation and blunted effect Avolotion: lack of motivation and blunted effect

5/20/ Types Paranoid: hallucinations and delusions with schemes of persecution. Suspicious individuals who are fearful of others, but do not experience blunted affect, disorganized behaviors or thoughts. Paranoid: hallucinations and delusions with schemes of persecution. Suspicious individuals who are fearful of others, but do not experience blunted affect, disorganized behaviors or thoughts. Disorganized: Verbally incoherent individuals with disorganized though patterns. Blunted affects with situationally inappropriate moods and emotions. Disorganized: Verbally incoherent individuals with disorganized though patterns. Blunted affects with situationally inappropriate moods and emotions. Catatonic: Withdrawn, negative, and isolate symptoms marked by psychomotor disturbances and some cases of immobility. Catatonic: Withdrawn, negative, and isolate symptoms marked by psychomotor disturbances and some cases of immobility. Undifferentiated: doesn’t fit into other types but has the diagnostic criteria Undifferentiated: doesn’t fit into other types but has the diagnostic criteria

5/20/ Diagnosis 2 or more symptoms present for at least a month 2 or more symptoms present for at least a month Symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with one’s ability to function in at least one major area of human activity Symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with one’s ability to function in at least one major area of human activity Based on Based on 1) presence of characteristic symptoms 2) social and occupational dysfunction 3) duration

Successful Portrayals of Schizophrenia When the Form Becomes the Content

Chuck Palahniuk’s Method: Stream of Consciousness Writing Tough to distinguish between what is real and unreal, as we see and hear things from inside the schizophrenic narrator’s head Tough to distinguish between what is real and unreal, as we see and hear things from inside the schizophrenic narrator’s head Switching of time and place Switching of time and place Jumping from one thought to another…a mind full of chaos, lacks order Jumping from one thought to another…a mind full of chaos, lacks order

Sylvia Nasar’s Method: Vivid Detail and Research After two years of dealing with the disease, Nash would often go into restaurants without shoes on and would walk around the Princeton campus talking to squirrels and writing everything in a notebook that said Absolute Zero. He referred to himself in the third person as Johann von Nassau and continued to write letters and make strange phone calls. Alicia, Nash's mother, and sister all agreed to have Nash involuntarily committed once again, this time to a state run facility. Nash was treated with insulin coma therapy five days a week for six weeks. The theory behind the therapy was that if the brain were deprived of sugar, which is what keeps it going, the cells that were functioning marginally would die. It would be like radiation treatments for cancer. (Nasar 293)

Misconceptions and the Fine Line between Entertainment and Reality

Misconception # 1 Schizophrenia is the Same as Dissociative Identity Disorder -- Quotations Book

Why we know Tyler Durden is a Hallucination No switch from true identity to alter ego involving amnesia. No switch from true identity to alter ego involving amnesia. The host is aware of Tyler and interacts with him The host is aware of Tyler and interacts with him Tyler Durden does not present himself in the same body (movie) Tyler Durden does not present himself in the same body (movie)

Why the reader might be confused… Quotes from the Narrator “I know this because Tyler knows this.” “I know this because Tyler knows this.” “Sometimes, Tyler speaks for me.” “Sometimes, Tyler speaks for me.” "I had to know what Tyler was doing while I was asleep. If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time, could I wake up as a different person?“ "I had to know what Tyler was doing while I was asleep. If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time, could I wake up as a different person?“

"Oh, this is bullshit. This is a dream. Tyler is a projection. He's a dissociative personality disorder. A psychogenic fugue state. Tyler Durden is my hallucination. 'Fuck that shit,' Tyler says. 'Maybe you're my schizophrenic hallucination. 'I was here first. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, well let's just see who's here last.'" Palahniuk addresses both disorders as possibilities when the narrator and Tyler argue about the realities of their situation.

For myself to say Because Palahnuik has the narrator contemplating whether or not he is an alter ego or a hallucination, the reader is left unaware of the deeper realities of both schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. Rather than showing the true realities of schizophrenia, it leads people to lump the two disorders into one category of negative assumptions and stereotypes Because Palahnuik has the narrator contemplating whether or not he is an alter ego or a hallucination, the reader is left unaware of the deeper realities of both schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. Rather than showing the true realities of schizophrenia, it leads people to lump the two disorders into one category of negative assumptions and stereotypes Disregarding the distinction between the two is likely for the purpose of entertainment rather than portraying psychological disorders in a accurate fashion. Disregarding the distinction between the two is likely for the purpose of entertainment rather than portraying psychological disorders in a accurate fashion. However, some movies have managed to be entertaining without blurring the lines between the two disorders. John Nash in A Beautiful Mind has sever al visual hallucinations that are never confused for alter egos characteristic of Dissociative Identity Disorder. However, some movies have managed to be entertaining without blurring the lines between the two disorders. John Nash in A Beautiful Mind has sever al visual hallucinations that are never confused for alter egos characteristic of Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Misconception # 2 Being Schizophrenic Means “Crazy” Words with negative connotations such as "crazy," "insane," or "deranged" are especially misleading and have too often been used to describe people exhibiting characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia. Words with negative connotations such as "crazy," "insane," or "deranged" are especially misleading and have too often been used to describe people exhibiting characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia.

Why is this a misconception? Because of the erratic behavior caused by delusions and hallucinations, paranoid schizophrenia is the most popular type of the disorder portrayed in book and film. Because of the erratic behavior caused by delusions and hallucinations, paranoid schizophrenia is the most popular type of the disorder portrayed in book and film. The peculiar behavior displayed by paranoid schizophrenics is fascinating to watch but could easily mislead audiences into thinking these individuals are crazy. The peculiar behavior displayed by paranoid schizophrenics is fascinating to watch but could easily mislead audiences into thinking these individuals are crazy.

Who does it WRONG? In both the novel and film of Fight Club, Palahniuk and Fincher perpetuates this misconception. In both the novel and film of Fight Club, Palahniuk and Fincher perpetuates this misconception. While Palahniuk successfully puts us in the disorganized mind of the tortured narrator, he not only suggests a possibility of dissociative identity disorder, but also greatly exaggerates and generalizes schizophrenic symptoms and those of other psychological disorders. While Palahniuk successfully puts us in the disorganized mind of the tortured narrator, he not only suggests a possibility of dissociative identity disorder, but also greatly exaggerates and generalizes schizophrenic symptoms and those of other psychological disorders. Palahniuk goes overboard and turns the narrator from a complex character to a laundry list of symptoms and ailments--insomnia, narcolepsy, depression, and more. Palahniuk goes overboard and turns the narrator from a complex character to a laundry list of symptoms and ailments--insomnia, narcolepsy, depression, and more.

Who does it RIGHT? On the contrary, Howard’s A Beautiful Mind and Sylvia Nasar's biography refute this misconception On the contrary, Howard’s A Beautiful Mind and Sylvia Nasar's biography refute this misconception They tell the story of the brilliant John Nash, a Nobel Prize winning mathematician and economist. They tell the story of the brilliant John Nash, a Nobel Prize winning mathematician and economist. The very fact that Nash is a genius, and for the most part remains so later in life, shows that Nash is never "crazy." The very fact that Nash is a genius, and for the most part remains so later in life, shows that Nash is never "crazy."

Misconception #3: Schizophrenia is Associated with Violence Schizophrenics do not have violent tendencies toward others Schizophrenics do not have violent tendencies toward others Fight Club as an extreme misrepresentation of violence in schizophrenia Fight Club as an extreme misrepresentation of violence in schizophrenia Examples from book Examples from book Examples from movie Examples from movie Violence builds Violence builds Schizophrenics more violent than general population? Schizophrenics more violent than general population?

A Beautiful Mind provides an alternative view A Beautiful Mind provides an alternative view John Nash is not violent toward others John Nash is not violent toward others Ex: hallucinations when no one else present Ex: hallucinations when no one else present Shows break from reality, not within realty Shows break from reality, not within realty Ex: Scene with infant son Ex: Scene with infant son A more accurate portrayal A more accurate portrayal Considering the purpose of Fight Club versus the purpose of A Beautiful Mind Considering the purpose of Fight Club versus the purpose of A Beautiful Mind

Conclusion What brings all this together?

A Beautiful Fight In terms of telling the true story of schizophrenia, these stories have both successes and shortfalls. In terms of telling the true story of schizophrenia, these stories have both successes and shortfalls. Successes  when the form becomes the content Successes  when the form becomes the content Shortfalls  reinforcement of misconceptions Shortfalls  reinforcement of misconceptions Taken as a whole, it becomes clear that the journey to find the true story of schizophrenia is a long, yet promising battle—a beautiful fight. Taken as a whole, it becomes clear that the journey to find the true story of schizophrenia is a long, yet promising battle—a beautiful fight.