Are schizophrenia and multiple personality disorders psychotic or neurotic?

Question

If they are psychotic, does this then mean that the person cannot tell that they have it until someone diagnoses them and even then they may not fully believe they are ill? Or is one/both a neurotic disorder?

I know they are completely different but I would like to know about both if possible. :)

Answer 1

As far as I understand of psychology they are both serious illnesses, which involve some sort of splitting of the mental processes, and therefore "psychotic". Neurotic tends to imply a disorder which has arisen from some kind of complex, which has evolved, over time, or through experience, and development of personality. I think psychosis, as a description of the disorder, would have to be arrived at, as a result of diagnosis, because of the seriousness of the disease.

Answer 2

They are both definitely psychotic. Psychiatrists have dropped the use of the word 'neurotic' in exchange for more precise labels, such as 'Social phobia."

Yes, it's generally true that psychotic people are unaware of being psychotic. Even once diagnosed, many psychotics will vehemently deny that it is true (this is to protect themselves from an otherwise overwhelming revelation).

The Merck Medical Manual has a brief and concise guide to psychotic disorders and mood disorders.

Answer 3

People with schizophrenia typically do not know that they are ill, and often do not acknowledge even a diagnosis. This is due to a symptom called anosognosia. However, the term "psychotic" is not synonymous with unawareness of illness and the term "neurotic" is not synonymous with awareness. People with Multiple personality disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder as it is called today, are not consciously aware of their other "personalities" but they might chose to seek psychological help because they are aware of instances of "loosing time."

Dissociative disorder (Multiple Personality disorder) is not classified in the DSM IV as a psychotic disorder, schizophrenia is (along with schizoaffective disorder). The DSM no longer classifies any mental illness as neurotic. Neurosis refers to thoughts or behaviors that impair our actions, the term is usually used very loosely and applied to very mild incidents.