[Schizophrenia from the viewpoint of family members]

After a short history of the origin of Schizophrenia Fellowships throughout the world, the difficulties besetting an efficient management of the disease are mentioned. Some of them arise from the characteristic features of the disease and the still awaited understanding of the etiology. Further serious obstacles arose from the century-old discrimination against the mentally ill, simplistic theories on the etiology of the disease, misuse and discouragement of drug treatment, discrediting of psychiatric hospitals and the lack of legislation to provide the patient with the right to competent treatment and rehabilitation. The families of schizophrenic patients expect maximum help from humane caring for the patient, with absence of psychological theories, intensive research into the biological causes of the disease, and a change in legislation respecting the possibilities of modern treatment. Families are not in need of treatment but of proper information, practical advice, unflagging support and cooperation between patients, family members, therapists and psychiatric institutions. As a compensation for their contribution to caring for the patient they would appreciate a well functioning emergency service to manage critical situations and the abolition of unnecessary obstacles to competent treatment. Only successful investigation of the causes of the disease can bring a fundamental therapeutic improvement.