Psychological Disorder Research by Eden Shimanek

According to Our World Data, an online publication that works to expand on the world's problems, around 10.7 percent of people, out of 792 million people, are affected by mental illnesses (Dattani, 2021). This means that over 84 million people are subject to a mental disorder, which is an overwhelming amount. And because there are more people becoming diagnosed with these disorders, it leads to more people wondering what has led to their disorder. Some disorders that are included in this 10.7 percent are depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In recent years, movie cultures have also partaken in establishing characters with mental disorders. Movies like A Beautiful Mind, Split, and season four of the show YOU have led the world to believe certain symptoms of traits are the reality, despite the research, and copies of the DSM () explaining all there is to know about mental illnesses. This leads to the question: How have the misconceptions of these disorders persisted after research has been conducted explaining the science behind these disorders? And more specifically, how can the science behind these disorders alter the world's perceptions?

Firstly, what are some mental disorders, and what is the science behind them? One mental disorder is called schizophrenia. This disorder is present in an individual when that person interprets the world abnormally, this includes having hallucinations and delusions. Disordered thinking that affects bodily functions or daily tasks is also characteristic of schizophrenia (Mayo Clinic, 2020). But what is the science behind this disorder? Although the main cause of this disorder is still unknown, there are aspects that increase the risk of developing this disorder. Genetics may play a role in someone having schizophrenia. No single gene expresses this disorder, but a combination of genes may make the disorder reappear in families where an ancestor had the same disorder (NHS, n.d). The changing of neurotransmitters has also been linked to schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages from neuron to neuron within brain cells (NHS, n.d). Studies have shown that when body sensitivity occurs when dopamine and Serotonin (two types of neurotransmitters) are imbalanced, which may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia (NHS, n.d). Another known disorder is called Bipolar Disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association, Bipolar Disorder “is a brain disorder that causes changes in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. People with bipolar disorder experience intense emotional states that typically occur during distinct periods of days to weeks, called mood episodes” (American Psychiatric Association, n.d). Like Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may also run in genetics. An imbalance of neurotransmitters is apparent in someone's brain, they may start to develop the symptoms of bipolar disorder (American Psychiatric Association, n.d). Medication such as lithium is mostly used when treating patients with this disorder because they are mood stabilizers (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

How does the world perceive mental illnesses? Many stereotypes arise from mental illnesses from the standard belief system of “ableism”. Ableism is the act of a group of people “devaluing and limiting the potential of persons with disabilities (Ontario Human Rights Commission, n.d). People with mental disorders are also subjected to ableism with those who have disabilities. Because people with mental disorders are classified as “abnormal” compared to their peers, they appear less able to complete job tasks compared to individuals that do not have a mental disorder. The entertainment industry also plays a major role in how the public perceives those with mental illnesses. In the case of dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which is when someone has two or more personalities that control their behaviors and each personality has its own identity (Cleveland Clinic, n.d), the movie Split has centered around DID. In the movie, a man suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, kidnaps and holds three teenage girls hostage. The movie vilified the man and uses his multiple personalities for violence. A psychotherapist by the name of Elizabeth Howell has criticized the movie because of its “disservice” to those with the disorder. She stated that the movie portrays people with DID as extremely violent. But in reality, people with DID are more likely to hurt themselves than other people (Healthline, 2017). More professionals have commented on the movie saying that the movie does not accurately educate the public on DID, it only adds to the world stigma about mental illnesses.

In the end, our culture portrays mental illnesses as some kind of violent disease. But in reality, these disorders are caused beyond the individual's control, and the science behind these disorders further demonstrates that these disorders are completely out of the hands of their host. This stigma leads to a less educated world on what specific mental disorders are. Classes or information sessions should be held to help educate the public about the science behind mental disorders and officially break the stigma that has been created by the entertainment industry.

Bibliography

Dattani, S., Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2021, August 20). Mental health. Our World in Data. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health 

Dissociative identity disorder: What is it, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9792-dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder 

Healthline Media. (2017, February 14). Split: Why mental health experts are critical of the movie. Healthline. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/movie-split-harms-people-with-dissociative-identity-disorder 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020, January 7). Schizophrenia. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443#:~:text=Schizophrenia%20is%20a%20serious%20mental,with%20schizophrenia%20require%20lifelong%20treatment 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, December 13). Bipolar disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355961#:~:text=You'll%20typically%20need%20mood 

NHS. (n.d.). Causes - Schizophrenia. NHS choices. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/schizophrenia/causes/#:~:text=Research%20suggests%20schizophrenia%20may%20be,of%20the%20cause%20of%20schizophrenia 

Part B: What we heard - 7. stereotypes about people with mental health or addiction disabilities. Part B: What we heard - 7. Stereotypes about people with mental health or addiction disabilities | Ontario Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/minds-matter-report-consultation-human-rights-mental-health-and-addictions/part-b-what-we-heard-7-stereotypes-about-people-mental-health-or-addiction-disabilities 

What are bipolar disorders? Psychiatry.org - What Are Bipolar Disorders? (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/bipolar-disorders/what-are-bipolar-disorders