FScHizophrenia explained

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 7

FScHizophrenia explained

Publicity surrounding the Yorkshire’ Ripper murders has inflamed the public’s misconception of schizophrenics. says the head of the department of pyschological medicine at Christchurch Hospital. Dr J. R. E. Dobson.

He said that if Peter Sutcliff. the man found guilty of the murders, was a schizophrenic he was "so freakish that he was unique." The risk of being harmed by someone with schizophrenia was so small that it was unreasonable to worry about it.

“It’s like the risk of pieces of space ship falling on your head.” Dr Dobson said. “It is possible but it is hardly worth worrying about.”

Road deaths resulting from drinking and driving and deaths from smoking cigarettes were things that people should worry about, he said. Schizophrenia is a major mental illness which runs in families. It can affect up to one person in 100.

The illness is caused by a change in brain functioning which is not yet fully understood. It usually appears in late adolescence. The common belief that schizophrenics had a split personality was not true, said Dr Dobson.

People suffering from schizophrenia experienced a change in the world around them. Concentration was impaired and thoughts might be jumbled and out of control.

Unexpected changes of mood could occur and it was often difficult to make decisions.

Schizophrenics might be troubled by false beliefs, or delusions, and could suffer from hallucinations, such as hearing voices. They" were also likely to be distressed and suspicious. The risk of violent behaviour could be present if the person developed suspicions of being harmed, said Dr Dobson. ■

At this stage the disorder was likely to respond-to antipsychotic drugs. These drugs, developed in the 19505, were a big breakthrough, in treatment.. The drugs not only reduced the distress and disability suffered by patients but had led to studies which could broaden the understanding .of: the : illness. A large proportion of "patients found that if. they took regular medication and adjusted their environment; their symptoms . remained under control. Between a third and a half were socially independent, but most would show features of chronic impairment marked by. slowness of thought and movement, a Ipw level of activity, and social withdrawal.

The most withdrawn patients tried to avoid all contact with other people. Some made an effort to interact with other people but found that they did not know how to go about it and became disheartened by their failure. Dr Dobson said that these

patients had a “persistent degree of handicap under the best - possible conditions." They were extremely sensitive to their environment so that too much social stimulation. especially from a person seen as hostile, critical, or “emotionally over-in-volved” could bring about a worsening of the condition. Not enough stimulation or. too low a level of expectation of their performance could also’increase their handicap. hfe.said. A friendly, accepting, and ’■ neutral attitude should be adopted" by these in contact with a schizophrenic, said Dr Dobson. By helping them to develop their social . skills and by giving them, tasks ' within their ’ capabilities,: their self-confidence would ’

improve and their handicap decrease. It was important that the ill person should have someone in whom he could confide. This could be a friend or a professional helper. A few patients were so severely handicapped that it was difficult for them to cope outside hospital. Most, however, were helped by the wider ranger of experience possible when living in’ the : community. 1 1 With adequate support and well organised, medical arid social care, many patients who previously would have spent long years in hospital could now reach their highest ley el of functioning in a tolerant neighbourhood, Dr Dobson said.