by Anne Youker

Created on: September 04, 2007

To compare schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder, which has been known for several years as D.I.D is similar to comparing a lion and a tiger. Although they stem from the same class they actually have more differences than many people realize. Talking about mental illness of any sort is considered taboo even now in the 21st century.

Schizophrenia, besides being a rather difficult word to spell, is truly a millstone around its victims neck. It could well be explained as one of the worst cancers in the world of mental health today. It robs its victim, who may be male or female of their dignity, education, often a bright future with marriage and children,and often their very lives become null and void. The worst case examples have left our fellow citizens out on the streets to rot. Because today many people are still scared of many mental health issues, or worse claim innocence until the house down the street is being renovated into a halfway home. Schizophrenics in particular are subject to prejudice and the outright 'ignorance' of 'normal' people. Paranoid schizophrenics have an even worse time not only do they think people are staring at them or talking about them, they are correct.

Multiple Personality disorder (D.I.D) is another misunderstood diagnosis. It is probably the most rare out there, and on the simple utterance of multiple personality disorder many people think Sybil. Of course MPD does exist but there are few psychiatrists that treat this disorder or even believe it truly is a disorder. So how does a MPD diagnosis even take place, it takes a lot of observation, a good knowledge of the victim and their history and I would imagine on top of that some pretty major blind faith. MPD is not treated with medications, after it would be extremely difficult to develop a medication that can stop one from dissociating, espesially when this is more often as not, not a choice.

Treatment for schizophrenia usually consists of an array of pharmaceuticals and mental health counseling, some of which may or may not be successful, its not an easy illness to treat. MPD is also treated with counseling and behavior modification. In conclusion MPD and schizophrenia can be compared until one is blue in the face and that is all can be concluded, other than both being mental health illnesses they are not comparable.

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