You'd be surprised. As a psychologist, I hear it confused all the time. What made me post this, was a commentator on NPR calling a policy "somewhat schizophrenic" because it seemed to say two things at the same time. Mental health myths tend to piss me off.
Except, if you really are an educated mental health professional you should certainly realize that the commentator was using that description correctly. Schizophrenia means split mind, and a policy that contradicts itself certainly could be described as schizophrenic.
To wit:
According to the Mayo clinic:
"Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally."
A contradictory policy certainly could be said to interpret reality abnormally, though the writer of such a policy probably fits the bill as well.
Furthermore;
According to Google: "(in general use) A mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements."
According to Merriam Webster: "Contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes."
Seems to describe a policy that contradicts itself or says multiple things at the same time to me.
Thus, as much as I hate NPR I've got to give them this one.
Being a educated mental health provider (assuming a Ph.D and having a NPI number counts :)), I use the DSM 5 criteria for diagnostic purposes (see below). It just gets frustrating to hear medical terms bandied about with reckless abandon. It's overused as well. Sort of like people saying "literally" for exaggeration purposes.
A. Characteristics of Symptoms: TWO OR MORE of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one month period (or less if successfully treated):
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganised speech (e.g. frequent derailment or incoherence)
Grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
Negative symptoms, ie affective flattening, alogia or avolition
B. Social/Occupational Dysfunction: for a significant portion of time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning, such as work, interpersonal relations or self-care
C. Duration: continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months.
Except "schizophrenic" is a term that exists in common usage, and has multiple definitions. I highly doubt that any joker on NPR would know any medical terminology, much less would try to make a medical diagnosis of a decidedly non-medical policy. Use your little SDM thingy when diagnosing patients, but if you cannot grasp common language, multiple definitions, or nuance I have my doubts you can understand patients and, frankly I must question your state of mental health.
Point of clarification, since things obviously need to be perfectly cut and dried for you; I am well aware that it is DSM volume 5 - my "SDM thingy" line was an attempt at humor. Furthermore, I am somewhat familiar with mental health issues and counseling as I am currently in my 3rd year of a BA in psychology, and my ex wife is a licensed psychologist with an extensive list of specialized training in subfields I've never heard of. She understands that the term "schizophrenic" has applications beyond the medical too.
Well, I would question my mental health too if I continued this conversation. Think what you will, I've had enough fun for one night. I have to go to bed so I can some how muddle through my day of providing ineffective and substandard care. I sure wish that DSM 5 thingy had more pictures. I'd at least be able to color while being oblivious to nuances. In all seriousness, it is difficult to hear casual references like that after trying help a family with a six year old pick up the pieces following a mom's psychotic break.
And I get quite annoyed when an arrogant ass purposely misrepresents facts. He/she is quite aware, I'm convinced, that "schizophrenic" has multiple meanings and uses. And frankly, if the user takes this approach with clients I'd be astounded if he/she still has a license.
Since when does schizophrenia have multiple meanings? Unless you are ignorant and don't know what schizophrenia is. I certainly do because my dad was schizophrenic.
Umm since it appeared in the freaking dictionary.
I've already posted this for those if you new to the English language but I'll try one more freaking time. Read number two.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schizophrenia
Furthermore:
schiz·o·phre·ni·a
ˌskitsəˈfrēnēə,ˌskitsəˈfrenēə/
noun
a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.
.
.
(in general use) a mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.
Definition number two in both pertains to a policy which says two different things, as OP originally complained about.
I suppose if I were to say that my car is running poorly because the ignition is too retarded, you would screech about a motor vehicle not meeting the criteria for a medical diagnosis of developmental disability!
Schizophrenia is a break with reality, where patients see/hear things that aren't there. They can have periods where they act strangely and periods where they seem normal, but this isn't related to having multiple personalities because the patient is themself the whole time.
Yeah did a 20 page thesis on this and found MANY scholarly articles that describe how the the two relate. PLEASE do not join the psych field with that closed ignorant mind
Reply
deleted
· 7 years ago
There's a big difference between the two though...
To wit:
According to the Mayo clinic:
"Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally."
A contradictory policy certainly could be said to interpret reality abnormally, though the writer of such a policy probably fits the bill as well.
Furthermore;
According to Google: "(in general use) A mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements."
According to Merriam Webster: "Contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes."
Seems to describe a policy that contradicts itself or says multiple things at the same time to me.
Thus, as much as I hate NPR I've got to give them this one.
A. Characteristics of Symptoms: TWO OR MORE of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one month period (or less if successfully treated):
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganised speech (e.g. frequent derailment or incoherence)
Grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
Negative symptoms, ie affective flattening, alogia or avolition
B. Social/Occupational Dysfunction: for a significant portion of time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning, such as work, interpersonal relations or self-care
C. Duration: continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months.
Forget about the 6 year old.
I've already posted this for those if you new to the English language but I'll try one more freaking time. Read number two.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schizophrenia
schiz·o·phre·ni·a
ˌskitsəˈfrēnēə,ˌskitsəˈfrenēə/
noun
a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.
.
.
(in general use) a mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.
I suppose if I were to say that my car is running poorly because the ignition is too retarded, you would screech about a motor vehicle not meeting the criteria for a medical diagnosis of developmental disability!