Sluggishly progressing schizophrenia

Sluggishly progressing schizophrenia was a fifth (as opposed to the four recognised in the West) category of schizophrenia diagnosed by psychiatrists in the Soviet Union. This diagnosis was often applied to dissidents who were not in fact mentally ill so that they could be forcibly hospitalized in mental institutions and subjected to different treatments including powerful anti-depressants and electroconvulsive therapy.

Related Topics:
Schizophrenia - Diagnosed - Psychiatrist - Soviet Union - Mentally ill - Mental institution - Anti-depressants - Electroconvulsive therapy

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The existence of this diagnosis has led to questions on the part of supporters of anti-psychiatry about the existence of schizophrenia in general; whether it is diagnosed properly, and about political misuses of the schizophrenia diagnosis in the West.

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