The epidemic of misrepresented mental illnesses
Healthy discussions about mental illness are recent developments. Media portrayals, stereotypes and misinformation have contributed to widespread misrepresentation of individuals affected by more serious or uncommon mental disorders. Even more common disorders, such as Tourette syndrome, are often the target of antiquated and harmful depictions due to lack of access to education or unwillingness to learn.
These misrepresentations can range from more casual statements about “being so OCD,” to bullying to the belief that schizophrenia, or mental illnesses in general, are the root cause of violence.
“A very harmful stereotype is that schizophrenia is associated with violence or criminality and, as a whole, the data doesn’t support that,” said Carter Davis, a graduate student at Utah State University in the clinical and counseling Ph.D. program.
According to research published by Jonathan M. Metzl and Kenneth T. MacLeish, “little population-level evidence supports the notion that individuals diagnosed with mental illness are more likely than anyone else to commit gun crimes.”
Dr. Ceslo Arango says the best predictors of violence are the same for schizophrenics and the general population: sociodemographic factors such as age, gender and economic status; drug abuse; antisocial personality, which can be characterized by no understanding of right and wrong; genetics; and previous acts of violence.
According to these researchers and Davis, violence is not a symptom of schizophrenia, but rather it can be a result of untreated symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations. The majority of those affected by schizophrenia, however, will never be violent.
Davis said proper treatment and early intervention can have positive impacts on the course of the illness. He said this includes increasing social contacts, creating support groups and giving them jobs where they can interact with others.
Schizophrenia can cause a disability to form healthy social relationships, compounding feelings of loneliness and ostracization, which, according to Davis, makes healthy social relationships even more important.
“If you know someone who has either gotten this diagnosis or has any of these experiences, don’t let your mind go to the stereotypes you hear about,” Davis said. “Just take the time to listen to their individual stories.”
Along with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder is also commonly misinterpreted.
“Both bipolar and schizophrenia, they’re both described as what we call serious mental illness,” Davis said. “There’s an increased risk for both.”
This, however, often feeds assumptions that bipolar makes a normal life impossible.
“That doesn’t really acknowledge the science and the research that says with appropriate management and social support, you can live a functional and full life,” Davis said.
In general, bipolar disorder is characterized by manic episodes, hectic, goal-directed activity lasting from a few days to multiple weeks. Many of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder often suffer from daily depressive episodes as well that can last for weeks.
Davis said medication for treatment is best paired with talk therapy. Again, education for that person’s whole network is also vital. One may never know if they associate with someone suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, so it is important to stay educated.
However, while it is important to understand that a normal life is still possible, it’s important not to demean bipolar disorder’s severity.
“Bipolar disorder is sometimes associated with artists and geniuses. There’s this idea of a sort of mad artist,” Davis said. “I think that can be a very harmful stereotype.”
He said that stereotype is too simplistic and “doesn’t speak to the severity of the condition.”
USU professor and obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder expert Michael Twohig said this is also a common issue when discussing OCD.
“There’s a little problem in our society of using OCD as a description for a sort of non-disordered behavior,” Twohig said. “I think we confuse being orderly and perfectionistic with being OCD and that takes away from the severity of what OCD is.”
In reality, when they are experiencing obsessions, it’s uncomfortable enough to cause them to “make great changes in their life.”
He said the obsession is a very disturbing thought, image or something happening in the body. The compulsive behavior is a reaction to the obsession. In Utah, a common example of OCD centers around an obsession with morality. Twohig said this can result in parents harming their children over their obsession.
“People picture OCD being around cleanliness and orderliness, but the truth is OCD is about the thing you care about the most,” he said. “They’re really good at not showing that to the group. You don’t see peoples’ OCD.”
Compulsive rituals are often suppressed in public but are still intense and aversive in private.
Along the obsessive compulsive disorder spectrum are trichotillomania, pulling out hair; excoriation disorder, skin picking; body dysmorphic disorder, obsession with perceived flaws in one’s body; and Tourette syndrome.
All these disorders are closely related to OCD.
“If you have Tourette’s, you probably have OCD,” Twohig said. And those with OCD often have depressive disorders. Early intervention with medication and talk therapy are important to prevent the compounding of mental illness.
Tourette’s is also related to OCD in the way it is exhibited in public.
“When they get out of the class, they do bigger ones,” Twohig said, “suppress it during the class and it gets bigger.”
Tourette’s is diagnosed from the presence of a vocal tic and a motor tic. Without both, they are called chronic vocal or motor tics. A common stereotype of Tourette’s is yelling out offensive words or causing disruptions with intentional vocalizations.
“Around 20% might say words that are offensive,” Twohig said, “but by and large, it’s grunting, clearing the throat.”
Tics are usually caused by a tightness in the throat or a muscle and feeling a compulsion to make it go away.
For anyone suffering from any mental illness, Carter Davis and Michael Twohig recommend medication paired with therapy and education about the illness. USU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, local behavioral health clinics and the Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence are recommended resources to begin mental health recovery.
The International OCD Foundation, the Tourette Association of America and the National Alliance for Mental Illness are resources for education about mental health for diagnosed individuals and those within their circles.
Davis said “listening to personal stories, actually getting to know people who have these experiences, really just trying to get to understand them” are the best ways to help.
William Bultez is a broadcast journalism major from Idaho. He is a film fanatic, dog lover and music enthusiast who enjoys the outdoors.
@willistheginger