Schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder

Schizophrenia is an illness where there is an increased level of the signalling molecule dopamine in parts of the brain involved in movement and emotion, the striatum. This causes the characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia, such as restlessness, intrusive thoughts, hallucinations, feelings of conspiracy and paranoia (hence the name, paranoid schizophrenia). The cause of schizophrenia is thought to stem from genetic and developmental factors, as well as being induced by drugs of abuse, such as cannabis. This mental illness can be treated by medications which decrease dopamine in the striatum, but this can cause side effects.

However, despite a very typical and characteristic set of symptoms associated with schizophrenia, it is often wrongly referenced, for example, in the joke “I am a schizophrenic, and I am too”. This is an incorrect use of the term, as there is no presence of multiple personalities in schizophrenia, yet this idea has integrated itself into common knowledge of the disorder. It seems that schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) are confused. DID is a mental disorder where patients experience multiple personalities, these can differ in age, gender and personality. Unlike schizophrenia, there is little known about this illness and no medicinal treatment outside of psychological therapy.

Thus, it is interesting that DID and schizophrenia are often confused as there is no overlap in symptoms. It is important that mental disorders (and any forms of illnesses) aren't confused, and any confusion is resolved, to not offend or insult people effected by them.

The chemical structure of dopamine.