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The writer, a young American, gives a graphic account of his experiences in a mental hospital during his three months' stay following a schizophrenic episode. From the dates given the book must have been written within about a year from the time of his discharge, and the contents must therefore be regarded primarily as a reminiscence, though the style adopted is that of the narrative.
The coherent manner in which he has pieced together the elements of his confused thinking and made them into an intelligible whole would indicate some considerable degree of consolidation and possibly refute the diagnosis of schizophrenia.
The narrative begins with an outline of the thoughts which haunted him the night before the onset of the acute phase, which necessitated restraint. The journey to the hospital is worthy of note, as he was taken there in a police car, handcuffed and escorted by two policemen. The story takes us in considerable detail, through the admission block, pack room, acute ward to an early release on licence. Here he is seen in the family where there is no empathy. A misunderstanding with his mother provokes an acute outburst of aggression and he is returned to hospital, again by the police and handcuffed. He was returned to his old ward, and after a short period given E.C.T., and from that graduated through O.T. to his final discharge.
The narrative can be taken in two ways:
1As a straightforward clinical record its value is impaired by the lack of previous history, hospital records, and notes on subsequent adjustment. However, it does clearly demonstrate how a nursing staff trained in psycho-analytic principles could help the deluded patient, for his main grievance was that all his questions were evaded or answered foolishly. After his readmission he felt that there was a change in attitude towards him, and he shows that through the development of a sympathetic, human relationship with some patients and nurses and an understanding relationship with some o