Schizophrenia is one of the most common but puzzling mental disorders. The condition has an inconsistent prevalence in various countries across the globe. Medical researchers have failed to explain why the cases of Schizophrenia are high in some countries but low in other countries. The condition involves hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking behaviors that interfere with an individual’s routine activities. T. M. Luhrmann in his introduction to “Our Most Troubling Madness” argue that although Schizophrenia is not unique, it is a result of biological and social factors.
In the introduction of “Our Most Troubling Madness”, the author presents various thought-provoking points in support of his argument. Firstly, the author states that the most confusing element of Schizophrenia is the inability to distinguish it from other disorders. He states “it has no unique symptoms-no symptoms specific to this disorder not found in other disorders” (p.1). Secondly, T. M. Luhrmann claims that the features of Schizophrenia make it the most devastating mental disorder of all illnesses. He states, “the disorder is terrifyingly common, claiming one in a hundred people pretty much everywhere…” (p.2).
Lastly, the author propounds that Schizophrenia should be considered as a result of biological and social factors. He associates the condition with genetic vulnerability by stating that many people whose relatives suffer from the condition are unaware of their own (p.17). According to T. M. Luhrmann, the over-emphasizing biological factors as the cause of the disorder leads to ignoring the social factors which are crucial for diagnosis. He argues, “As Schizophrenia was biologized, a mother struggling with losing a child to madness no longer had to blame herself for the tragedy” (p.17). Therefore, both factors must be considered when analyzing the causes of Schizophrenia.
The three points, discussed above, are important in the understanding of Schizophrenia. The points shed light on the much-ignored yet crucial information about the condition. The points are significant in providing an altogether perception of Schizophrenia and its causes. One question arises from reading the introduction to “Our Most Troubling Madness”: what are medical researchers missing in pursuit to understand the exact causes of Schizophrenia? Therefore, the researchers need to adopt strategies that will explain the causes of Schizophrenia better.
