My book, “Schizophrenia-Exploding the Myth”, in it, I have proved that:

• The diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’ is unreliable and invalid.
• It is primarily trauma such as prolonged sexual abuse that causes hallucinations (this symptom alone is enough to receive a diagnosis).
• The current treatments available on the NHS (National Health Services) for those who have received this diagnosis are not conducive to recovery.
• The most effective treatment for ‘schizophrenics’ is ‘Direct Confrontation’ which is impossible to access in the UK at the moment, followed by psychoanalytic psychotherapy. 

I feel very strongly about this subject for the reasons detailed below.  I would like a national campaign entitled, ‘SCHIZOPHRENIA DOES NOT EXIST’ to be launched to change society’s perception of the diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’ and the people who have received it and to improve the way these people are treated on the NHS.  It is available from the UPSO website, Amazon and from leading bookshops in the UK. 

When Richard, a close family member of mine, first saw a psychiatrist, he spoke of being followed, harassed, victimised and abused.  These statements were perceived as paranoid delusions (i.e. he was not believed) and instead of the psychiatrist delving into the reasons why Richard was saying this, he immediately made the diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’.  It did not occur to the psychiatrist that Richard’s affirmations were indeed fact and that he was actually being subject to horrific sexual, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of one of his so-called ‘friends’ (for example: being raped and beaten repeatedly, being forced to take part in rituals, being threatened that his family’s lives would be in jeopardy if he disclosed these events).  I have detailed similar accounts of other individuals in the book. 

Trauma can cause someone to experience dissociation (a disconnection between mental processes such as thoughts, feelings, meanings and sometimes one’s sense of identity).  Once someone has divorced their self from their body, they may begin to hallucinate.  In order for a person to come to terms with the abuse they have suffered, they must be made aware of the meaning of their symptoms and put their experience into words.  It is a critical feature of the healing process.  Most other symptoms of ‘schizophrenia’ derive from taking neuroleptic medications, being institutionalized, alienated, stigmatised and labeled rather than listened to.  Psychiatrists rarely investigate the origins of hallucinations but spend their time deliberating over which diagnoses most adequately describe their patients.   

Once someone has received a diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’, they are strongly discriminated against (they cannot obtain mortgages, insurance and frequently cannot find work) and are often locked away in a mental institution.  They can be forced to take neuroleptic medication which can cause irreversible side-effects, such as the condition ‘Tardive Dyskinesia’ where the patient constantly makes involuntary movements.  This medication can also reduce hallucinations and induce a sense of apathy and docility, sometimes making the patient sleep for up to twenty house a day.  In essence, taking medication can suppress memories and encourage suffers to avoid their problems rather than face them.  Thus recovery is extremely rare. 

Eleven years ago Richard started seeing a private psychotherapist (six years after his breakdown) and, after eleven months, he remembered being raped.  The floodgates opened and he has been recalling horrific events ever since.  He still experiences intense flashbacks where he is re-exposed to the abuse he suffered. Consequently, to outsiders, his behaviour can appear odd at best and threatening at worst.  Someone who has been given a diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’, like Richard, cannot receive appropriate treatments on the NHS.  The only options open to him are medication, cognitive behavioural therapy and having a social worker visit regularly. Sadly, the latter frequently feels intimidated by Richard because of his behaviour.  In fact, every psychiatrist/psychologist/social worker that he has encountered has not possessed the skills to form a relationship with him. 

Richard met with a ‘Direct Confrontation’ therapist, Jack Rosberg, Ph.D., from America for one day in September, 2005.  He understood Richard’s behaviour immediately and said he could help him but the cost would be over 1,000 British pounds per week.  We arranged a two-week period of treatment in January, 2006 and Jack managed to encourage Richard to do some things he hasn’t done for over seven years, e.g. play his guitar, respond to all questions, help in the kitchen, improve his hygiene. Jack a very caring but firm individual, also directed us, his family, as to what we could do in the future to continue this positive work.  Sadly, two weeks was all we could afford.  We applied for funding for this treatment but were denied as Jack Rosberg, is not a recognised professional in the British system.  In other fields of medicine, patients are referred to specialist hospitals on the NHS if their local hospital does not have adequate resources or expertise but there is no such arrangement or funding for mental health. 

The Hearing Voices Network has helped thousands of people to understand, accept control and sometimes eliminate the voices (auditory hallucinations) they hear in order that they may live a more normal life.  Richard sees a young man who is a member of this Network twice a month.  His understanding and empathy inspired Richard to open up to him immediately and, consequently, he has improved in many areas. However, this Network does not have the resources or time to give more prolonged help.   

My book does not give conclusive answers to questions because of the diversity of human experience. I hope I have highlighted the ineffective treatments and suggested more efficacious alternatives.  I have realised there is an urgent need for more diverse and radical therapeutic treatments to be developed.  A search for answers seemed to uncover more questions and consequently, in the ‘Concluding Remarks’, I have recommended valuable research that might be undertaken in the future. 

I hope you enjoy reading it. 

Yours Sincerely, 

Nancy Mellor, BSc, MA, ATCL 

To order copies of this book, please contact:
http:// www. upso.co.uk      OR   Amazon.com

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