Inside Schizophrenia

A quarter of a million people suffer from schizophrenia in Britain today, and one in every 100 people will be diagnozed as schizophrenic at some time in their life. But very few people - and this includes GPs - have a real understanding of the disease what happens and what treatments are available? Films, novels and television dramas have created a false image which is hard to dipsel, and schizophrenics themselves are often unable to shed light on the subject as they may be suffering from thought disorder, or be unable to speak coherently. Gwynneth Hemmings, as Secretary of the Schizophrenia Association of Great Britain describes schizophrenia and explains what can be done for sufferers and their families. The hundreds of letters she receives on the subject are often shocking, moving, sometimes optimistic and they provide detailed pictures of what life is really like in affected families.
She discusses childhood symptons of the disease and explains various methods of minimalizing its progression in later life; she reports on the latest research and outlines what still needs to be done; she talks about medical treatments and the legal aspects of hospitalization as well as offering some tips on how to live with a schizophrenic and she also gives advice on diets which may help to prevent symptoms and suggests ways in which sufferers can carry on with a normal life.