What does the Bible say about schizophrenia?

This mental illness is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and concentration, bizarre behavior, and lack of motivation. Hallucinations are defined as hearing or seeing things that do not exist outside of the mind. Delusions are unusual beliefs that are not based on reality. Muddled thoughts or disorganized thinking. Losing interest in everyday activities, such as personal hygiene.  Wanting to avoid people, like personal friends. Although it is a common misunderstanding, schizophrenia is not related to having split or multiple personalities.

One person in the Bible who could be diagnosed as suffering form schizophrenia is the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. The book of Daniel gives us insight into his condition. He was the most powerful ruler in the world, but pride became his downfall. Let’s take a closer look at his mental condition.

• Hallucinations/delusions. ““Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty” (4:30)? This bold statement from Nebuchadnezzar is incredible in scope. The DSM-5 describes delusions as “fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence.” One relevant delusion is grandiose delusions, such as when someone believes they have exceptional abilities, wealth or fame. Indeed, he did not change this belief about himself even when warned by Daniel, “Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue” (v.27). He was so fixed on these grandiose thoughts that he clung to them for seven years (v.16).

• Muddled thoughts or disorganized thinking. The result of his grandiosity is that his mental capacity was impaired: “Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal” (Dan.4:16).  But his mental faculties were not completely taken from him, because Daniel also informs him “your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules” (4:26). So, his condition is that he no longer has the mental capacity of a healthy person. This has been replaced by the mental functioning of an animal. Enough to lead him to walk away from his kingdom into the wild, but still retaining enough to at some point to demonstrate reason to act positively. This is what he does just prior to the end of this schizophrenic episode: “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored” (v.34).

• Lack of motivation/Losing interest in basic/everyday activities. Living as an animal in the wild, Nebuchadnezzar lost motivation to care for his own hygienic needs. “His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird” (4:33). We can make some very safe assumptions here besides the fact that he stopped cutting his hair and nails. We can surmise that he also stopped washing his hair and body, cleaning his teeth, and cleaning himself after relieving himself.

• Avoiding people. The text makes this a point of emphasis, stating “let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth” (v.15), “let him live with the wild animals” (v.23), and “he was driven away from people” (Daniel 4:33). Schizophrenia often leads to chronic social isolation, which most likely reinforced the symptoms of schizophrenia over a period of seven years.

• Bizarre behavior. “And ate grass like the ox” (4:33). Nebuchadnezzar exchanged life as the most powerful man in the world for that of an animal who grazed the wild searching for food.
  

Nebuchadnezzar concludes by admitting to a mental crisis. He writes, “my sanity (mental capacity, thought, ability to reason) was restored” (4:34, 36).