ABSTRACT
Since the WHO studies of the 1970s it has generally been accepted that the prognosis for those with schizophrenia in developing countries has been better than for those in developed countries. India is often cited as one such developing country. However, since the mid 1970s India has developed considerably and through technology and globalization has become one of the economic powerhouses of the twenty-first century. This development has seen rapid change at every level in Indian society, and as such India is an interesting place to look at how treatment of schizophrenia and mental illness has developed alongside economic development and how cultural change has impacted on this. This chapter will describe one programme in India which is trying to address the needs of those with mental illness while taking into account the role of culture, social system, community, and family support systems.
