ABSTRACT
The press release issued by the hunger strikers on July 28, 2003, included a copy of the certified letter they had just sent to the three target organizations. The letter called for "scientifically valid evidence that clearly establishes 'schizophrenia', 'depression' or other 'major mental illnesses' as biologically-based brain diseases. A base-line standard of a neurochemically-balanced 'normal' personality, against which a neurochemical 'imbalance' can be measured. Any psychotropic drug can correct a 'chemical imbalance' or reliably decrease the likelihood of violence or suicide". The strikers said that they had appointed an "internationally respected panel of scientists and mental health professionals to review and analyze" whatever evidence the American Psychiatric Association (APA), National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI), or the Surgeon General produced in response to their letter. The 2003 hunger strike is a particularly vivid example of a protest by psychiatric patients, but it's only one in a long line of actions.
