Schizophrenia: What to know about this complex mental health diagnosis - USA TODAY

As an expert in mental health policy, Elyn Saks is highly accomplished in her field.

High achievements and severe mental illness are not mutually exclusive, but many people may not know much about schizophrenia beyond media depictions associating it with violence, failure or deviancy. .

population, but is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses. It affects how people think, feel and act and is most commonly characterized by delusions and hallucinations, impaired cognitive thinking and difficulty socializing with others, which can make it difficult for some — but not all — to access treatment or maintain employment and housing. .

"While there is a relationship between mental illness and violence, it's not the best predictor.

When people imagine schizophrenia, they often envision erratic behavior, "talking to yourself and saying nonsense," Corrigan says.

With therapy and medication, "my life got better," Saks says.

As a successful professional with schizophrenia, Saks says the need to debunk myths about mental illness is crucial in understanding the complex disorder and encouraging treatment and social support

While it's true that some may exhibit aggression or unpredictability when their symptoms go untreated or when combined with substance use, research has supported that most are not actually violent: Serial killers are more likely to exhibit antisocial personality disorders (such as sociopathy or psychopathy), according to the American Psychiatric Association, and those with schizophrenia are at increased risk of becoming victims, rather than perpetrators, of violence

Mental illness can pose real-life limitations, but Saks wants people to know their experiences should be depicted as multi-faceted and unique, rather than demonized as something to be feared