In physics, we use the same laws to explain why airplanes fly, and why they crash. In psychiatry, we use one set of laws to explain sane behaviour, which we attribute to reasons (choices), and another set of laws to explain insane behaviour, which we attribute to causes (diseases). God, man's idea of moral perfection, judges human deeds without distinguishing between sane persons responsible fo...

Almost most mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression are associated with undue medical morbidity and mortality. It represents a major health problem, with 20 to 30 years shorter lifetime mortality are primarily due to premature cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke...). The cardiovascular events are strongly linked to non modifiable risk factors su...

The effectiveness of efforts designed to address mental illness stigma will rest on our ability to understand stigma processes, the factors that produce and sustain such processes, and the mechanisms that lead from stigmatization to harmful consequences. Critical to such an understanding is our capacity to observe and measure the essential components of stigma processes. This article is designe...

IMPORTANCE Significant progress has been made in reducing the prevalence of tobacco use in the United States. However, tobacco cessation efforts have focused on the general population rather than individuals with mental illness, who demonstrate greater rates of tobacco use and nicotine dependence. OBJECTIVES To assess whether declines in tobacco use have been realized among individuals with m...

It is not easy to give a fair and adequate survey of this book within the compass of a short review. It embodies an ambitious attempt to endow concepts of mental illness with accuracy and precision. It also illustrates the more independent attitude adopted by some of the younger members of the psycho-analytical school. The author takes as the two basic personality types the Schizoid and the Syn...

One of the more consistent findings of epidemiological research is that women report symptoms of both physical and mental illness and consult doctors for these conditions at higher rates than men.' That finding stands in sharp contrast to the longer female life expectancy than that of males at every age. The explanation most often offered for this sex difference refers to strains and stresses a...

Smoking increases metabolism of different medications including some antidepressants (tricyclics and mirtazapine), antipsychotics (clozapine, olanzapine and haloperidol) [14], some benzodiazepines and opiates.[15] This can result in significantly lower plasma levels [12] and therefore, larger doses are required for a similar therapeutic effect. However, following smoking cessation, doses of the...