Schizophrenia is the archetypal form of madness Schizophrenia is a common disorder & has a devastating effect on sufferers & their families-patients typically hear voices in their heads & hold bizarre beliefs The schizophrenic patient presented to the public in sensational press reports & lurid films bears little resemblance to reality of the illness This book describes what schizophrenia is really like how the illness progresses & the treatments that have been applied It also summarizes the most up-to-date knowledge available about the biological bases of this disorder Finally it attempts to give some idea of what it is like to have schizophrenia & what this disorder tells us about the relationship between mind & brain ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable