hi nutjobs, here's some articles that you might want to share with your imaginary friend.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_schizophrenia
Background
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder characterized by a difficulty in recognizing reality, regulating emotional responses, thinking in a clear and logical manner, and behaving in a socially accepted manner.[1] It is unclear what causes schizophrenia at this time, but it seems that genetics play a heavy role, as individuals with a family history are far more likely to suffer from schizophrenia.[2][3] The disorder can be triggered and exacerbated by social and environmental factors, with episodes becoming more apparent in periods of high stress. Symptoms usually appear around the onset of early adulthood.[4] It is rare for a child to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, in part because of the difficulty in establishing what erroneous thoughts and beliefs can be attributed to childhood development and which thoughts and believes can be attributed to schizophrenia. With medication (usually antipsychotics) and therapy, schizophrenics can live successful, productive lives.
Religious delusions
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One of the most commonly reported varieties of delusions from those with schizophrenia are religious delusions. A delusion is a thought or belief that holds no basis in reality, yet the sufferer staunchly believes it to be true, even in the face of clear evidence to the contrary. A religious delusion has an overtly religious nature to it, often involving hearing the voice of God, feeling commanded by God, being possessed by demons, and other unrealistic phenomena. These delusions occasionally become violent, ending in the death of the sufferer and/or another individual(s). Though rare, cases of this nature have been reported in the past. It can be difficult to place blame in such instances, especially if the perpetrator has not yet been diagnosed with schizophrenia. These individuals do not have an actual desire to cause harm outside of the disorder, but because of the nature of schizophrenia, they are largely powerless to control it. With proper medication and treatment, however, a schizophrenia patient will quickly return to a socially acceptable level of behavior.
Although religious delusions are a commonplace phenomenon in schizophrenic patients, religious delusions are not unique to schizophrenics alone; rather, it is entirely possible for an otherwise healthy individual to experience such a delusion separate from any mental disorder. Similarly, a schizophrenic can experience a delusion void of religious content whatsoever. For instance, a paranoid schizophrenic may incorrectly believe that a government agency is pursuing them. An example of religious delusion without schizophrenia would be churchgoers speaking in tongues or feeling the "hand of God" upon them. Another example is Jerusalem syndrome, a phenomenon in which visitors to Jerusalem are overcome with religious fervor and psychosis, oftentimes believing that they themselves are the Messiah; however, evidence to support the claim of such a syndrome is limited, and it is not listed in any edition of the DSM.
Schizophrenia and religious delusions
The relationship between religion and schizophrenia is of particular interest to psychologists because of the similarities between religious experiences and schizophrenic episodes; religious experiences often involve auditory and/or visual hallucinations, and schizophrenics commonly report similar hallucinations, along with a variety of delusions and faulty beliefs. A common report from those with schizophrenia is some kind of a religious delusion - that is, they believe they are divine beings, God is talking to them, they are possessed by demons, etc.[5][6][7] In a study of schizophrenia patients that had been previously admitted to a hospital, 24% had had religious delusions.[8] Because of the inherent similarities between religious belief and schizophrenia, it has led some researchers to question whether schizophrenia leads an individual to become more religious, or if intense religiosity leads to schizophrenia.[9]
Role of religion in schizophrenia treatment
It has been shown in longitudinal studies that those suffering from schizophrenia have varying degrees of success when religion plays a significant role in their recovery.[10] It would seem that the use of religion can either be a helpful method of coping with the disorder, or it can be a significant hindrance in recovery. Religion, depending on how a patient views it, can be paralyzing and quite harmful, in that a patient may refuse treatment based on religious beliefs; in certain instances, one might believe that their delusions and hallucinations are actually a divine experience, and would therefore deny any need for treatment. On the other hand, religion can also be a very valuable tool in coping with the disorder, especially for those who are active in a religious community.[11] Provided that a therapist is open to the use of religion in one's treatment, it is possible to tie religion in with professional therapeutic aids and medication in order to meet a desirable goal.[12]
Religion as a trigger for schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can be triggered by a variety of environmental factors, including significant stress, intensely emotional situations, and disturbing or uncomfortable media. It is possible that religion itself may be a trigger for schizophrenia; religious imagery is often very grandiose, and defies our commonly-held beliefs of what is realistic and natural in the world. Experiencing an intense religious experience may trigger a schizophrenic episode in those who are vulnerable to them, because religion often requires a believer to suspend their usual idea of what is possible and impossible. This could potentially lead to a schizophrenic episode due to the shift in realistic thinking; a sufferer may believe that they themselves are religious deities or Messiahs, or that God himself is speaking to the individual. It has been shown that those with schizophrenia who suffer from religious delusions are more religious than those who do not suffer from these delusions.[13] It has also been shown that those who suffer from religious delusions are less likely to continue long-term treatment.[14]
