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Anne Sippi exhibited
mild symptoms of mental illness within a year of her
birth in 1952, but was not diagnosed as
schizophrenic until the age of thirteen. By then,
she had passed through a troubled, withdrawn
childhood. She played viola in the school orchestra,
but had no friends and crossed out childrens' faces
in her school books.
During her adolescence Anne's condition steadily
worsened despite continuous efforts at treatment. By
the time she entered her Twenties, she had been in
and out of several psychiatric hospitals. Her
vocabulary had shrunk to a few words. She was
delusional, heard and responded to voices from the
past, and had become self-mutilating and assaultive.
She spent much of her time in restraints. Deep into
the schizophrenic nightmare, Anne would, said many
professionals, never return. Long-term custodial
care was the recommendation.
In 1973, Anne became a patient of Dr. Harvey Ross, a
Los Angeles orthomolecular psychiatrist. A year
later, dissatisfied with Anne's progress, Ross
suggested to Anne's mother, Jane Henderson, that she
consult with Jack Rosberg. Deciding that Anne could
be reached, Rosberg began seeing her seven days a
week in sessions lasting for 45 minutes to two
hours. Within a month, Anne began to react to the
therapeutic pressure. She became less assaultive and
was able to be moved from a closed to an open
hospital ward.
The next two years were ones of gains and losses as
Rosberg, now aided daily by Chess Brodnick, joined a
sometimes desperate battle with his patient. Twice,
Anne was rehospitalized. Twice, she ran away. But by
the end of 1975, her vocabulary had vastly expanded
and her manner was quicker and sharper. The biggest
gain was that much of Annes' most bizarre behaviors
had disappeared.
In 1976, Anne moved into a board and care home while
continuing to see Rosberg and Brodnick. At that
time, Jane Henderson and Jack Rosberg began
investigating the possibility of founding a clinic
for the care of people like her daughter. The Anne
Sippi Clinic was formed later that year as a day
care facility; patients like Anne were housed at
various board and care homes. By the end of 1978,
sufficient financial support had been gathered to
purchase and open the present residential care
building.
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