The Russian concept of schizophrenia: A review of the literature

The focus of this article is a comprehensive review of the Russian-Soviet c onceptualization of schizophrenia, which can be understood only in the broa der historical and cultural context of Russian-Soviet psychiatry. Because o f multiple barriers and the political abuse of psychiatry in the former Sov iet Union, international psychiatric literature has lacked unbiased data ab out the scientific merit and historical logic of the Russian-Soviet concept of schizophrenia. This article represents an attempt to examine phenomenol ogy, nosology, and some biological theories of schizophrenia developed in t he former U.S.S.R. from historical and scientific points of view and to com pare them to the Western theories. The article also addresses historical an d cultural antecedents of the abuse of psychiatry. The author suggests that the lack of a democratic tradition in Russia, a totalitarian regime, and o ppression and "extermination" of the best psychiatrists during the 1930-50 period prepared the ground for the abuse of psychiatry and Russian-Soviet c oncept of schizophrenia. Perspectives on the potential changes in the Russi an concept of schizophrenia in changing historical conditions are discussed .