To See or Not To See “Schizophrenia” and The Possibility of Full “Recovery”

Bibliographic Data

ID9021600
AuthorsJohn Breeding (Coalition for the Abolition of Electroshock, Texas, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume48
Issue4
Pages489-504
Publication date2008-04-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Humanistic Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-1678 • E-ISSN: 1552-650X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0022167808316942
OpenAlexW2100268828
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited12

Since the beginning of modern psychiatry, the diagnosis of “schizophrenia” has epitomized the idea of chronic, severe mental illness. This engaging article looks at the beliefs and practices of biological psychiatry regarding “schizophrenia.” Guiding beliefs, however flawed they might be, determine perception and action, and this is very true in psychiatry. There are, however, significant differences between belief and fact in psychiatric theory. The author examines these differences and presents research about the safety and efficacy failures of treatment, especially regarding the antipsychotic drugs. He reviews important dissident literature from both psychiatric survivors and professionals showing that recovery from extreme states, from “schizophrenia,” is quite possible. Although the standard psychiatric outlook for recovery from schizophrenia is virtually nil, the essay concludes with an inspiring story of musical artists who have demonstrated a reemergence from diagnoses of severe mental illness and treatment with antipsychotic drugs and electroshock

Action (physics · Antipsychotic · Mental health · Mental illness · Perception · Psychiatric diagnosis · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Music Therapy and Health · Psychology · Schizophrenia research and treatment

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