BMJ  2006;333:636-638 (23 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.38968.608275.AE

Practice

A patient's journey: living with paranoid schizophrenia

15 Acreman St, Cerne Abbas, Dorset DT2 7JX s.bakerbrown@btopenworld.com

Stuart Baker-Brown developed paranoid schizophrenia in 1991 and received a diagnosis in 1996. This is his story.

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Moscow 1991

Paranoid schizophrenia took its strongest grip on me after I had visited the former Soviet Union in August 1991. During my visit I took part in the marching on the streets of Moscow against communism and against the communist hardliners who attempted a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev. During my stay I began to feel very stressed because of the political unrest and uncertainty. I marched with the people not because of any political beliefs but because of the vast importance and history of the occasion.

I can clearly remember the moment paranoia took its grip on me for the first time. One night after I had marched on the streets I was woken by a telephone call in my hotel room. To my surprise, a man on the other end was shouting and swearing at me in Russian. I immediately put the phone down. I was extremely worried, and my . . . [Full text of this article]

A difficult homecoming

Meeting the enemy

A bitter pill

A shoulder to lean on

One man's mountain

Evaluation

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Rapid Responses:

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The story so far?

G. Nick Bolsover
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2006 [Full text]

Treating the patient not the illness.

John M Luck
bmj.com, 26 Sep 2006 [Full text]

A lesson in our own pessimism

Liz Tate
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2006 [Full text]

Early Intervention can make the difference

Alister Campbell
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2006 [Full text]

To hell and back...

B Saravanan
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2006 [Full text]

Re: To hell and back...

Stuart Baker-Brown
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2006 [Full text]

Inheritance from the Soviets

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bmj.com, 30 Sep 2006 [Full text]

well done, Onemanmountain climber!

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bmj.com, 6 Oct 2006 [Full text]

How To View Mental Illness

syed shah
bmj.com, 10 Oct 2006 [Full text]

Something more than climbing mount everest

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Re: How To View Mental Illness

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bmj.com, 10 Oct 2006 [Full text]

Other side of picture

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evolution of medicine

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