When she experiences hallucinations, artist Sue Morgan feels compelled to draw, to get the images out of her head. Sue was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 20 years ago. Drawing is therapeutic, but it is also her way of expressing the complex and sometimes frightening world inside her mind.
In this short film produced by Nature, Sue meets Dr Sukhi Shergill, a clinician and researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, who uses MRI to look inside the brains of people living with schizophrenia. Two ways of making pictures of the same experience.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels and perceives reality. It can involve hallucinations (often auditory), delusions, disorganized thinking and changes in motivation or social engagement. It is not a split personality, and most people living with schizophrenia are not violent: with treatment, many lead full and creative lives, as Sue Morgan illustrates.
Screening is not diagnosis
Schizophrenia can only be diagnosed by a qualified clinician, usually a psychiatrist. Online tools cannot diagnose it. However, validated questionnaires such as the SPQ (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire) can help you reflect on schizotypal traits (unusual perceptions, magical thinking, social anxiety) and decide whether to talk to a professional.
Are you experiencing unusual perceptual experiences?
The PQ-16 (Prodromal Questionnaire-16) is the gold-standard validated screener for early psychotic experiences. It will not diagnose schizophrenia, but it can help you decide whether to consult a mental health professional. Score 6 or more positive items and a face-to-face evaluation is recommended.
Take the PQ-16 free test →If you are in crisis, contact emergency services or a local crisis line immediately.
Video credit: Nature Video.