MPD vs Schizophrenia: Difference and Comparison

Multiple Personality Disorder and schizophrenia are severe mental health disorders. Although the two disorders are confused as synonymous, they are not similar. MPD is a disorder wherein an individual exhibits two or more separate identities.

Schizophrenia, however, is a severe mental health disorder caused by major disturbances in perception, behaviour, thought, and emotion.

Key Takeaways

1. Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), is characterized by two or more distinct identities or personalities. At the same time, schizophrenia involves a range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms.
2. DID primarily involves disruptions in identity, memory, and consciousness, while schizophrenia symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.
3. Treatment for DID focuses on integrating distinct personalities, whereas schizophrenia treatment includes antipsychotic medications and therapy.

MPD vs Schizophrenia

MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder) is a condition where an individual develops two or more distinct identities or personalities that take control of the person’s behaviour and thoughts at different times. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by a distorted perception of reality, including delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, and behaviour.

MPD, popularly known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, is a severe mental health disorder wherein an individual exhibits two or more separate identities.

The personalities attributed to MPD may have their voices, names, and characteristics. These identities might seem to make an effort to take control over a person.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder caused by major disturbances in perception, behaviour, thought, and emotion. The diagnosis of schizophrenia happens during early adulthood. Hospitalisation is a rule in schizophrenia.

There are several characteristics of schizophrenia, such as delusions, disorganized speech, catatonic behaviour, hallucinations, and negative symptoms.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	MPD	Schizophrenia
Definition	MPD, popularly known as the Dissociative Identity Disorder, is a serious mental health disorder. An individual having MPD exhibits two or more separate identities.	Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder characterized by major disturbances in perception, behaviour, thought, and emotion.
Symptoms	There are several characteristics of MPD. These include disruptions in identity, memory, motor control, behaviour, emotion, perception, and consciousness.	There are several characteristics of schizophrenia. These include delusions, disorganized speech, catatonic behaviour, hallucinations, and negative symptoms.
Causes	MPD develops in response to some kind of trauma, such as sexual or physical abuse.	The causes of schizophrenia include brain brain differences, substance use, and environment.
Onset of symptoms	The early symptoms of MPD become prominent during childhood.	The diagnosis of schizophrenia happens during early adulthood.
Treatment	MPDs are cured with talk therapy. Treatment options include Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), reprocessing, and eye movement desensitisation.	Treatment of schizophrenia includes the use of antipsychotic medicines along with therapy.

What is MPD?

MPD, popularly known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, is a severe mental health disorder wherein an individual exhibits two or more separate identities.

Each personality is distinct and well defined from one another. Sometimes, people diagnosed with MPD experience a memory gap during which the other identity is in charge.

There are several characteristics of MPD. These include disruptions in identity, memory, motor control, behaviour, emotion, perception, and consciousness.

The personalities attributed to MPD may have their voices, names, and characteristics. These identities might seem to make an effort to take control over a person. 

MPD is controversial at times. Some believe that people use the term to escape the legal repercussions of their illegal actions. In addition, when MPD was initially discovered, the cases of MPD rose drastically.

Researchers, however, classified it as an overdiagnosis of the disorder. Despite being controversial, MPD is a severe mental health disorder. Although some people may exploit it to their advantage, MPD is a legitimate disorder that has impacted several lives. 

MPDs are cured with talk therapy. Treatment options include Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), reprocessing, and eye movement desensitisation.

People with MPD might find it hard to work, handle relationships and family, and manage everyday work. Nonetheless, it is the best option to get medical help as soon as possible. 

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder caused by major disturbances in perception, behaviour, thought, and emotion. The diagnosis of schizophrenia happens during early adulthood.

Hospitalisation is a rule in schizophrenia. In addition, it is a psychotic disorder that may impair a person’s work life and relationships. 

There are several characteristics of schizophrenia, such as delusions, disorganized speech, catatonic behaviour, hallucinations, and negative symptoms. Delusion refers to fixed false beliefs.

Hallucinations occur when a person sees, hears, or smells things that no one else does. Negative symptoms refer to the absence of behaviours that healthy people exhibit.

Disorganized speech refers to phrases that have meanings only for the individual and may not exist in reality. The presence of any two of these symptoms is a hint that a person may have schizophrenia. 

Schizophrenic people have cognitive deficits such as slower processing speeds and memory problems, and causes of schizophrenia include brain differences, substance use, and environment.

The use of marijuana increases the risk of psychotic disorders. Exposure to viruses or malnutrition during pregnancy may be a cause of the disorder. 

Treatment of schizophrenia includes the use of antipsychotic medicines along with therapy. Schizophrenia hampers the day-to-day functioning of an individual. Thus, it is advisable to treat the disorder at the early signs of its presence. 

Main Differences Between MPD and Schizophrenia

1. MPD, popularly known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, is a severe mental health disorder. An individual having MPD exhibits two or more separate identities. On the other hand, schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder caused by major disturbances in perception, behaviour, thought, and emotion.
2. There are several characteristics of MPD. These include disruptions in identity, memory, motor control, behaviour, emotions, perception, and consciousness. In contrast, there are several characteristics of schizophrenia. These include delusions, disorganized speech, catatonic behaviour, hallucinations, and negative symptoms. 
3. MPD develops in response to some form of trauma, such as sexual or physical abuse. However, the causes of schizophrenia include brain differences, substance use, and the environment. 
4. The early symptoms of MPD become prominent during childhood. In contrast, the diagnosis of schizophrenia happens during early adulthood. 
5. MPDs are cured with talk therapy. Treatment options include Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), reprocessing, and eye movement desensitisation. On the other hand, the treatment of schizophrenia includes the use of antipsychotic medicines along with therapy. 

References

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature09552?pagewanted=all
2. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0310-5_16 

Last Updated : 10 August, 2023