A new book on schizophrenia

"Punishing the Patient - how psychiatrists misunderstand and mistreat schizophrenia" by Richard Gosden

The medical profession is certain that schizophrenia is a medical problem, and is virtually unanimous about the correct treatment for it: most people diagnosed are treated with powerful, debilitating drugs that manage but do not cure the condition. Now there is a growing worldwide attempt, supported by drug companies and being trialled in Australia, to identify pre-psychotic adolescents and to treat them similarly. But what if psychiatrists are wrong? In a radical shift of perspective, Punishing the Patient argues that most people with schizophrenic symptoms are either undergoing a spiritual/mystical emergency, or they are persons who do not conform to social expectations. In each case, psychiatric misunderstanding and mistreatment has led to patients¹ human rights being violated on a massive scale.

The author, Richard Gosden is at the University of Wollongong . He is now a research officer with Student Services within the University , working in the area of student disability. Also check here for more information. The publisher is Scribe Publications, Melbourne.

From the Age ~ MH spending, according to RANZCP, went up 30 per cent between 1993-8. Despite this, the system is a mess. You have to be practically suicidal to get admitted to the psych. ward of a public hospital. As Ian Hickie says, not only is the system of private versus public and specialist versus primary care chaotic, key treatments such as clinical psychology and long-term specialist contact are "typically severely limited".

Anne Buist, director of the Austin Hospital's mother/baby unit says there are not enough residential beds for the depressed in hospital, and there is too little community support. "Our mandate is to treat people for brief periods. It's patch em up and push em out.

... There's too much emphasis on medication. A lot of the depression I see is life-related, a pill won't cure it."