How to write

I tend to research subjects for my writing related to crime, police investigations and forensics.  Crimes, particularly violent crimes, are often associated with mental illnesses.   I think writers have a responsibility to accurately represent mental illness rather than stereotyping or propagating misinformation.  If you are incorporating mental illness into your work of fiction, learn about the disease, the victims, symptoms and treatments.  Don’t rely on your assumptions because there are real people, real families struggling with the reality of mental illness everyday.

Schizophrenia is often found in families so it may be caused by genetic defects.  The medial frontal cortex is the region of the brain which processes information to make sense of the world around us. Researchers have found schizophrenics display more brain activity in this region compared to healthy subjects when shown negative images.  Psychotic symptoms (hallucinations and delusions) usually emerge in late teens or mid twenties, appearing earlier in males (teens) then females (20s). 

“Research has shown that schizophrenia affects men and women equally and occurs at similar rates in all ethnic groups around the world.” 1

Michael Perry killed five members of his family, overwhelmed by delusions and paranoid schizophrenia.  Michael and his sister were committed to a mental institute after their brother’s death in 1968.  His sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia and Michael suffered auditory and visual hallucinations, violent outbursts and paranoid delusions. 

Joseph Kallinger believed he heard the voice of God, commanding him to kill.  Kallinger also suffered from schizophrenia.  Not all schizophrenics are violent. “Studies show that if people have no record of criminal violence before they develop schizophrenia and are not substance abusers, they are unlikely to commit crimes after they become ill.” 1

Those who also exhibit anti social personality disorder are more likely to act out on their impulses.  Kallinger displayed anti social behaviors at an early age.  In adulthood, delusions justified his violent impulses.

Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder. They are physiological, just like any other disease of the body and they are indiscriminate in victimology.  Anyone can suffer, regardless of age, race, religion, income or upbringing. 

Diana Dial believed she was being targeted by a group of assassins.  She suffered from delusional disorder and killed her roommate.  People who suffer delusional disorder have delusions involving real life situations that could be true, such as being followed, being conspired against or having a disease.

The exact cause of psychotic disorders is unknown.  People with certain disorders may have hyper sensitivity to dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells relay messages. “An imbalance of dopamine affects the way the brain reacts to certain stimuli, such as sounds, smells and sights and can lead to hallucinations and delusions.” 1

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

Mental illnesses are biologic disorders and can not be controlled with “will power”. 

Mental illnesses are not indicative of a person’s “character” or intelligence.

Mental disorders vary in degrees of severity.  A small portion of Americans (6%) suffer serious mental illness, although many more suffer in lesser degree.

Mental illness often strikes during adolescence and young adulthood.

It is estimated that untreated mental illness costs $100 billion a year in the US. The costs are associated with disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, criminal activities and incarceration.  

Treatment is effective in ~70% of individuals although the social stigmatism may prevent people from seeking treatment.

1. Schizophrenia - Medicine Net, Retrieved March 11, 2008