ABSTRACT

Schizophrenic people are often in the news, usually because of behaviour that alarms and outrages the ordinary citizen. But that isn't the whole story. Those who work closely with schizophrenic patients often report that they seem to have extra perceptions, 'frightening empathy' or 'uncanny sensitivity' alongside the negative aspects of the condition.
Peter Chadwick, who has himself suffered from the illness, presents fascinating studies of some schizophrenic-prone people with whom he has worked. Using autobiography, biography and psychometric and experimetnal methods, he reveals areas of enhanced functioning and argues for a much more positive picture of the schizophrenic mind. He raises important questions, such as whether schizophrenia should really be viewed as an illness that we want to eradicate, or does it instead actually endow its sufferers with valuable qualities we should be nurturing?

chapter 1|9 pages

Introduction

THE SCHIZOPHRENIC CREDIT

chapter 3|16 pages

A journey beyond the Self

chapter 4|11 pages

Hospital life while psychotic

chapter 5|10 pages

Hospital life when sane

chapter |9 pages

Appendix to Chapter 5

Some hints and advice for recovering patients who would like to research their own condition

chapter 6|15 pages

Desmond

Comedian mystic

chapter 7|18 pages

Ivo

A butterfly among bulls

chapter 8|19 pages

Deanna

Thunder from ‘Elsewhere’

chapter 10|15 pages

Experimental studies

The rationale

chapter 11|22 pages

Experimental studies

Results and analyses

chapter 12|11 pages

Implications for therapy I

Learning from patients and the public

chapter 13|16 pages

Implications for therapy II

Some specific problems

chapter 14|6 pages

Conclusions