Brown, J: Surviving Paranoid Schizophrenia

John Brown, D. D. (1778-1848), of Langton, was a theological writer. He was born at Glasgow, licensed by the presbytery of Glasgow, ordained minister of Gartmore , and joined the Free Church in 1843. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of Glasgow in November 1815. He was one of the early friends and promoters of evangelical views in the church of Scotland, and a contributor to the 'Christian Instructor.' He was the author of two books which attained fame, Vindication of Presbyterian Church Government, in reply to the Independents and The Exclusive Claims of Puseyite Episcopalians to the Christian Ministry indefensible.

This book is for anyone with an interest in paranoid schizophrenia. It gives an outline of the author's life prior to him having schizophrenia. Then it gives details of his three very severe bouts of illness with this devastating mental illness. It also details his periods of being well, the psychiatric treatment that he received at hospital and his efforts to stay well on his prescribed medication. The book is an effort to describe the career of a paranoid schizophrenic patient, loosely written in the style of an academic case study on this subject.
The book describes the voices, hallucinations and paranoid delusions that are characteristic of paranoid schizophrenia. It also offers some hope that those with this mental illness can recover from their periods of schizophrenia, and live relatively normal lives, as long as they continue to take their medication, which is an essential part of any recovery programme. The book can contribute to an understanding of paranoid schizophrenia among mental health professionals and sufferers alike.