As a parent of a son with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the author was aware of the various theories regarding genetic predictors, toxic and heavy metal exposure, and immunization after-effects. However, she had not seriously considered that genetics or a history of emotional and psychological challenges in her family line could have been…

Watters questions the universality of mental illness and warns of the harms that accompany the exportation of Western typologies to non-Western cultures. He is particularly concerned that these effects will be exacerbated by the upcoming revisions of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" ("DSM-V").…

This article presents responses to the question of whether clozapine is ever appropriate to use in the pediatric population. Among others, Jean A. Frazier also agreed that clozapine is appropriate for use in the pediatric population. Clozapine has truly revolutionized the treatment of refractory patients with schizophrenia at any age. This agent…

The prefrontal cortex of the primate frontal lobes provides the capacity for judgment which can constantly adapt behavior in order to optimize its outcome. Adjudicating between long-term memory programs and prepotent responses, this capacity reviews all incoming information and provides an interpretation dependent on the events that have just…

Reviews Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory data presented by Small, Madero, Gross, Teagno, Leib, and Ebert (1981) which shows distinct differences, consistent with the clinical diagnosis in the case of the schizophrenic patients, and is suggestive of an affective disorder in the anorexic patients. (Author/JAC)

Briefly comments on the previous article by Noll and Benedict, disputing the assumption that the present state of knowledge limits clinicians to symptoms as a frame of reference for classification. (RH)

The article focuses on the relationship between the primary process and the creative process, especially as it relates to the fields of wit and poetry. Examples of identification based on similarity in schizophrenics are presented. (CL)

Comments on Haley's paper "The Effect of Long-Term Outcome Studies on the Therapy of Schizophrenia." Criticizes Haley for making gratuitous, demeaning remarks about psychiatry; concluding that schizophrenia is a psychological and social problem; recommending ineffective treatments for the psychotic phase; and recommending psychotherapy without…

The author extends the self stimulatory theory of self destructive behavior in autistic, schizophrenic, and mentally retarded individuals to suggest that damage of the skin's nerve structure lowers the tactile sensory threshold for physical input and enables individuals to obtain sensory stimulation by repeatedly depressing the damaged area. (CL)

Examines the place of poetry within five major schools of psychotherapy. Presents the process of self-creation as a final common pathway for poetry and therapy. Applies specific principles of poetry therapy to schizophrenic patients. Concludes with an identification of key issues pertaining to the role of the therapist and the field of poetry…

Describes a typical disturbance of affectivity in adolescent schizophrenics in which the patient relates to the people around him or her in a superficial, socially acceptable, receptionist-like manner. (SS)

The authors comment on the article "The primacy of cognition in schizophrenia," by R. W. Heinrichs. They state that Heinrichs persuasively argued as to the primacy of cognition in schizophrenia by citing an impressive body of evidence in favor of the view that schizophrenia is a complex biobehavioral disorder that manifests itself primarily in…

This paper presents comments on an article by R. L. Sternberg, E. L. Grigorenko, and K. K. Kidd and another article by H. Tang, T. Quertermous, B. Rodriguez, S. L. Kardia, X. Zhu, X., A. Brown, et al. (2005). On the day that the author of this paper reads Sternberg, Grigorenko, and Kidd's (January 2005) article on race, an article from the…

Considers that Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22" represents an inventory of the major pathologies of thought and communication. Uses excerpts from the novel to show the various communicational maneuvers (such as denying reality, absolute literalness, and circular reasoning) that characterize schizophrenic transactions. (PA)

In this article, I respond to comments made by K. Salzinger and A. Aleman and A. S. David on my original article. The constructive, reconstructive, and interpretive nature of human cognition is well illustrated by these two responses to my recent article on schizophrenia. In the original article, I used meta-analytic summaries of the published…