Vulnerability to Schizophrenia and Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Schizophrenic Patients: Towards an Integrated View

My approach to schizophrenia and its treatment has evolved gradually over my forty-year experience as a family researcher and a psychotherapist to schizophrenic patients. I am convinced that we must maintain a comprehensive view, both with regard to the factors contributing to vulnerability to schizophrenia and concerning our treatment activities, and not limit our views with studies focusing on restricted spheres of interest. I will present some viewpoints concerning both the biological and the psychosocial factors contributing to the vulnerability to schizophrenia. My aim is to indicate that these factors are heterogeneous and differently weighted in different cases. However, an integrated notion of the pathways leading to schizophrenia can be proposed. I will also review the therapeutic approach-the need-adapted treatment of schizophrenic psychoses-which I and my coworkers have developed in Finland and which, in many respects, is related to these views.