Schizophrenia in poorer countries

How interesting!

It would seem that there may be a link with social support networks - an article in the Independent yesterday claimed that urban Brit's are turning more and more to psychotherapists as a substitute for the support that has more traditionally been provided by extended families or even the church.

Could it also be that women are more likely to confide in their friends and family and that sharing their experiences may also help in their recovery?

Despite the huge amount of money that is being poured into research by the drug companies, a pharmaceutical 'cure' for schizophrenia has still not been establised and this article must surely provide compelling evidence that drugs alone cannot provide a long-term solution to mental health problems.

Jo.M

I recommend reading the chapter on schizophrenia and how a diagnosis of schizophrenia is used for social control in Dorothy Rowe's book Beyond Fear. It's very thought provoking!

Kathleen

Yes so many people who have been through the mill of the mental health system say they have been diagnosed with just about everything at one time or another from 'bi-polar disorder' to schizophrenia to personality disorder.

I absolutely agree that psychotherapists (and the therapy culture genrally) had largely replaced humanities need for social support, direction etc. within modern communites. A role that used to be fulfilled by the wise aunt, uncles, tribal story teller etc.

As far as diagnosis being used for social control I think that a certain amount of diagnisis can be helpful i.e. some people most cetainly doexhibit definite symptoms. However diagnosing can also be a way of controlling someone. This was certainly done in Stalinist Russia where any dissent was seen as indication of madness and therefore 'treatable' (punishable) by hospitalisation (imrisonment).

Partners in a couple also offer one another psychiatric diagnosis. How
many times have I heard: 'You are just paranoid!', and 'You're
mad!' or the less clinincal: 'You are really screwed up!'

I think a diagnosis can be a straight jacket as well as an opportunity for good treatment and then again the power of labelling shouldn't be underesimated either.

Mark.

Diagnosis of mental illness can be cultural as well as a tool of control, can't it?
I heard on Radio 4 (so it must be true!) that in Russia, people who smile too much have been seen in the past as frivolous and wicked. 'Too much grinning leads to sinning' goes one old folk saying. English men who want to make friends with Russian women are warned against smiling excessively less they be seen as mentally unstable!
starship

I'll bear that in mind starship