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Article: Conquering schizophrenia: Switzerland has made many contributions to the growing awareness of schizophrenia. The company Sandoz in Basel discovered the first psychotropic drug, while Zurich's Burgholzli clinic opened new avenues of psychotherapy.
- Article from:
- Swiss News
- Article date:
- March 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Swiss News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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During the whole 19th century, most insane asylums looked like visions from hell. Since the inmates, during their psychotic fits, might howl, smash furniture and assault the wardens, they were treated like wild beasts or worse.
In 1920, the German book 'Life Unworthy of Life' caused the deaths of thousands of mentally deranged Germans, many of whom suffered from what we now call schizophrenia. Under Nazi rule, they were classified as 'useless parasites' and sent to gas chambers.
Even as late as the 1950s, the treatment of 'incurable' schizophrenic patients in certain U.S. psychiatric units consisted mainly of separating them from society instead of ...