What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is not a split personality. It refers to a group of biochemical diseases which can affect a person physically, mentally and emotionally. Schizophrenia can change the way a person hears, sees, tastes, thinks and feels. Some studies have shown that the predisposition to schizophrenia is inherited. It affects one to three percent of the population and strikes mainly young people in all walks of life.

What Causes Schizophrenia?
Some professionals blame fathers, mothers, society or environment. However, scientific
evidence indicates that schizophrenia is caused by errors in body chemistry.

What are the Danger Signals?
Schizophrenia can have symptoms which are similar to other illnesses and disorders. It is therefore necessary to see a competent physician if schizophrenia is suspected. The following are some of the most common complaints that persons with schizophrenia have:
• Extreme fatigue and feeling of weakness
• Difficulty in concentrating and getting organized
• Loss of interest, withdrawal
• Depression unrelated to life circumstances
• Vague fears and anxieties
• Changes in sight, hearing, touch, taste or smell
• Change in character or behaviour
• Headaches
• Insomnia

How is it Diagnosed?
There is a great difference of opinion as to what constitutes schizophrenia and considerable variety in its diagnosis. Persons with schizophrenia or their relatives are often told the patient is emotionally disturbed, has had a nervous breakdown, has an immature personality, or is retarded. Unfortunately, no matter what terms are used, the majority do not get well on traditional treatments.
The principal method used in diagnosing is clinical observation by the doctor. A very useful psychological test, the Hoffer-Osmond Diagnostic Test, which can be administered easily and quickly, has been developed to help in diagnosis.

How is Schizophrenia Treated?
If left untreated, there is a natural recovery rate of about 35 percent. The usual forms of treatment are tranquilizers, psychotherapy or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). There are many schools of thought and many opinions regarding the treatment of schizophrenia. It has been shown, however, that psychotherapy alone is not an effective treatment. ECT and tranquilizers may be useful as part of a good treatment program but cannot produce lasting benefits alone.
Orthomolecular treatment is reported to be effective in 80 percent or more of the cases and is the best treatment developed so far. This treatment usually includes a special diet, vitamins and minerals in accordance with the individual needs of the patient, and other therapeutic aids such as tranquilizers,
supportive psychotherapy, and other treatments which the doctor thinks will be useful. Many persons with schizophrenia have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and allergies which are treated.

How Does Schizophrenia Affect Society?
Schizophrenia is a frightening disease which can bring about a great deal of suffering to the patients and the family and severe problems to society. Schizophrenia is an important factor in social aid and welfare costs, health care costs, employment inefficiency, impaired learning ability, alcoholism, broken homes and suicide. The average person with schizophrenia will cost one to two million dollars to society, directly and indirectly, in his/her lifetime.

What Can be Done to Control Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia will only be conquered with effective diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the International Schizophrenia Foundation is to help those with schizophrenia by:
• Informing the public about schizophrenia, its danger signals and what can be done about it.
•  Helping the person with schizophrenia and the family to learn how to deal with this illness.
• Ensuring that effective diagnostic and treatment methods are instituted, and that people with schizophrenia are given a better chance of getting well than they have at present.
• Promoting research.
• Improving mental hospitals and treatment centres.

ORTHOMOLECULAR TREATMENT

What is it?
Orthomolecular treatment is defined as providing the brain and the body with the best possible biochemical environment, especially with those substances
normally found in the body such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other essential molecules.

What are the Principal Components of the Treatment?
Vitamins and minerals are administered according to the individual needs of patients. A good diet is considered to be an important part of the therapy. Treatment for such disorders as low blood sugar,
allergies, and thyroid problems are included when
necessary. Sometimes tranquilizers are used for brief periods, and other treatments and supportive therapy are included.

For Which Disorders is it Used?
The orthomolecular treatment can be used for a wide variety of disorders such as schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, behaviour and learning disorders in children, problems of aging, alcoholism and addiction, arthritis, heart and circulatory problems and many other diseases.

How Can a Person Receive Orthomolecular Therapy?
A physician should be consulted for all medical problems. The vitamin dosages and diet and other therapies should be regulated to suit the needs of the individual patient. If the physician is not familiar with the therapy, he can consult other physicians who are. In addition, the ISF can provide literature for physicians.

Are there any Adverse Effects?
The orthomolecular treatment is generally very safe. A small percentage of people experience some discomfort when taking vitamins, but the doctor can prescribe other forms of these vitamins or adjust the dose.

How Effective is Orthomolecular Treatment?
In the treatment of schizophrenia, the American Schizophrenia Association Committee on Therapy
reported 80 percent recoveries based on a follow-up of 1,500 patients. Other physicians report a recovery rate of more than 75 percent and considerably higher in children. The orthomolecular treatment has been found to be highly effective in treating many other disorders including depression, behaviour and learning problems in children, alcoholism and problems associated with aging.

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHIZOPHRENIA FOUNDATION

What is Our Mission?
To promote the wide acceptance and use of orthomolecular treatment to enable people with schizophrenia and other mental illness to lead healthy, independent lives.The ISF is a non-profit, charitable organization with international affiliates federally chartered in Canada in 1968.

How Does it Carry Out its Functions?
The ISF has developed programs which include professional and public information, working with mental health care professionals and governments, and research. The ISF information program includes:
• A list of publications including more than 300 books, pamphlets and reprints.
• Publishing the quarterly Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, formerly known as the Journal
of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, a  unique medical journal for health professionals.
• Publishing the quarterly Nutrition & Mental Health, a newsletter with emphasis on illnesses
affecting the brain.
• Annual international conferences held alternately in Toronto and Vancouver, focusing on
nutritional medicine.

In addition, public meetings, regional conferences, radio and television programs and newspaper articles are also part of our work. The ISF and its branches answer thousands of enquiries from people seeking information and help. The ISF works with health care providers, teachers, psychologists and community organizations to improve treatment and preventive measures, to reduce fear and stigma, and to provide the best possible recovery and rehabilitation services. The ISF also promotes and supports research.

How is the ISF Funded?
The ISF receives income from memberships, subscriptions to its quarterly publications Nutrition & Mental Health and the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, private donations and sale of literature.

How Can the ISF Members Help?
The members of the ISF are vital to the organization because they can work at a local level, either through the ISF affiliates, the ISF Head Office or on their own, to provide services in their communities and to give information and encouragement to people who need help.

ISF Publications
The ISF has literature that is written by ISF
personnel and published by the ISF, reprints from the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and from other periodicals, books and pamphlets from publishers in the USA and Canada, government clinicians’ reports and others.

How Can I Become a member of the ISF?
The ISF invites everyone who wishes to
support our work. Please go our membership form for details.