Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood diagnoses, if not the most. Little is known about it, its initial diagnosis shares many common characteristics of other disorders, its causes consist of grand theories of many different perspectives, and its treatment, though it has evolved, still lacks much of the social support that can facilitate a faster, more fulfilling (and permanent) recovery. Its social stigmas impair its treatment mostly due to the ignorance that people possess about it functionality, just what is functional, and a myriad other factors relating to the disorder.
Much has been done to understand it, this “dementia praecox,” this “splitting of the mind,” or whatever term will be given to this collection of highly debilitating psychoses in years to come. Researchers have indeed progressed in their studies. Only half a century ago were genetic models restricted to mere family and adoption studies. Now, genetics and molecular biology play a large role in the etiology of the disorder. Medications have improved, making the reduction of positive symptoms less negative, as ironic as the language may be. Unfortunately, much remains to be investigated, many answers still abound, many ignorances have yet to be extinguished.
It is a disorder with many peculiarities in its cause(s). Genetics seem to play a role, as do benign environmental variables from gene-environment interaction models. Childhood abuse and trauma, adult stress, and even prenatal complications all seem to contribute somehow to its development and/or maturation, and yet there is nothing upon which there is a consensus of cause. For the time being, there are only correlational, loose experimental, or shady-at-best results to go on. One study’s outcome seems to raise questions about another, and so on. It seems best to merely test more, as has been done, and continue with genetic testing. Maybe molecular models will reveal something. Perhaps some alarming correlation will yield an experiment that shows causation. All that is known for now, however, is that not much is known. Such is the origin of the conversation the late psychologist Joseph Zubin imagined having with the ghost of Kraepelin:
J.Z.—Why does it take so long to make progress in the field of schizophrenia? E.K.—Well, it may be the case that we “knew” more in the early part of this century than we “know” now. In the USA I once heard someone say “It ain’t ignorance that causes all the trouble. It’s knowing things that ain’t so!” Perhaps we had to unlearn the false knowledge before we could advance to the new, cut down the underbrush before new plants could thrive (Plomin & McClearn, 1993, p. 232).