flu infection in pregnancy linked to adult schizophrenia

Not a problem. My grandmother had schizophrenia, and it annoys me
when people ask me how many personalities she had. My answer is
always, "One. She had schizophrenia... she didn't have muliply
personalities."

This is so weird. I've *never* heard of people confusing the two!

The original definition of the word was much closer to what we would now call
split personality. "Schizo" means cleave or separate -- probably related to
"scissors" and words like that. The people who think it means multiple
personality disorder (or whatever the proper name is) are therefore not so much
downright wrong as just way, way out of date.

--Helen

"H Schinske" wrote in message
...
Not a problem. My grandmother had schizophrenia, and it annoys me
when people ask me how many personalities she had. My answer is
always, "One. She had schizophrenia... she didn't have muliply
personalities."

This is so weird. I've *never* heard of people confusing the two!

The original definition of the word was much closer to what we would now
call
split personality. "Schizo" means cleave or separate -- probably related
to
"scissors" and words like that. The people who think it means multiple
personality disorder (or whatever the proper name is) are therefore not so
much
downright wrong as just way, way out of date.

What I was taught in abnormal psych was that the "Schizo" part was a split
between fantasy and reality, (think paranoid schizophrenia) and that what
we think of as MPD was probably a much later development that schizophrenia
(due to life expectancy and change in family patterns-it's often a result of
long-term abuse, and that sort of situation arises MUCH less frequently in
shared living.).


--Helen

H Schinske wrote:

The original definition of the word was much closer to what we would now call
split personality. "Schizo" means cleave or separate -- probably related to
"scissors" and words like that. The people who think it means multiple
personality disorder (or whatever the proper name is) are therefore not so much
downright wrong as just way, way out of date.

Well, that and many people use the word in a
non-psychological way to indicate someone who waffles
between two positions or is "of two minds" on an issue,
so I'm sure that doesn't help either.

Best wishes,
Ericka

wrote:

What I was taught in abnormal psych was that the "Schizo" part was a split
between fantasy and reality, (think paranoid schizophrenia) and that what
we think of as MPD was probably a much later development that schizophrenia
(due to life expectancy and change in family patterns-it's often a result of
long-term abuse, and that sort of situation arises MUCH less frequently in
shared living.).

That sounds like a very odd assumption. From what I know about slum living in
the nineteenth century, long-term abuse was pretty darned common. Of course
fewer of those abused kids would have survived long enough to tell their
stories, too, but that's a different issue.

I've seen statements that multiple personality disorders have been described
since at least the 16th and 17th centuries -- at that time they were thought to
arise from demonic possession, witchcraft, etc. However I should think it would
be difficult to tell from some historical descriptions whether it was true MPD
or just hallucinations from other mental or physical disorders (I mean things
like porphyria, advanced syphilis, etc., as well as schizophrenia and the
like).

--Helen

On Fri, 6 Aug 2004 12:32:06 -0500, "Donna Metler"
wrote:

What I was taught in abnormal psych was that the "Schizo" part was a split
between fantasy and reality, (think paranoid schizophrenia)

Yep, that is what I was taught in the US, and funnily enough, it was
what was taught to my DH in Australia.

He says that the way he understands it there are 2 personalities: the
normal one and the schizophrenic one. The normal one is in touch with
reality; the other is not.


--
Daye
Momma to Jayan and Leopold
See Jayan and Leo: http://www.aloofhosting.com/jayleo/
Updated 28 Feb 2004

I thought the definition of schizophrenia was a "shattered personality".
I have seen that term in psych textbooks. Isn't schizophrenia
characterized by a severe break from reality, including auditory or
visual hallucinations? As far as schizophrenia and MPD being confused I
think that happens a lot. I have heard people mistakenly use the term
"schizo" for someone who has more than one personality. I was watching
something on TV not long ago where scientists were questioning whether
MPD really exists or is just "faked" by individuals for one reason or
another. Interesting stuff.

Wendy