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Definition: Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a disorder characterised by psychosis (inability to distinguish between real and imagined experience), illogical thoughts, delusions and hallucinations.

The term comes from the Greek 'schizo' to split or divide and phrenos meaning mind. It is commonly wrongly confused with multiple personality disorder.

Ivan Tyrrell and Joseph Griffin of the Human Givens Institute suggest that the delusions and hallucinations experienced by schizophrenics are a result of experiencing the dream or REM (rapid eye movement) state whilst awake, and the mind is unable to distinguish the internal input from the dream from the external reality.

Further information

* Rethink (formerly National Schizophrenia Fellowship)
Information on schizophrenia, what it is, causes and treatments.