EDITOR—McGrath and Emmerson's review of the treatment of schizophrenia has ignited a lively exchange of views in the BMJ, many of which cast doubt on the concept of schizophrenia or the value of giving this diagnosis.1 2

A recent survey posted to all consultant psychiatrists in Scotland in May 1997 determined 211 consultant psychiatrists' views on whether to tell patients with schizophrenia their diagnosis. It showed that 200 (95%) respondents agreed that the consultant psychiatrist was the best person to do this, but only 124 (59%) stated that it was their usual practice to tell patients their diagnosis after the first established episode, and only 187 (89%) said it was their usual practice to tell patients their diagnosis after a second or subsequent episode …