The Natural History of Mania, Depression, and Schizophrenia

"This volume describes a landmark study conducted on the life course of severe mental disorders. Aspects of the Iowa 500 study have been described in dozens of peer-reviewed papers, however, the essence of this very important and pioneering study are now included in one integrated and comprehensive volume. As such, it is a remarkable book, providing many unique and valuable insights into the life course and outcome of severe mental diseases. Equally important, Drs. Winokur and Tsuang should be warmly congratulated, since the book is clearly and concisely written and very readable. I recommend "The Natural History of Mania, Depression and Schizophrenia" highly to all students, clinicians, and researchers who are interested in severe psychiatric disorders."-- "Lewis Judd, M.D., Mary Gilman Marston Professor, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, Former Director, National Institute of Mental Health"

"Using the power of the classical clinical approach and based on the landmark Iowa 500 study, Drs. Winokur and Tsuang--two of our leading naturalists--paint the definitive longitudinal portraits of the major psychiatric disorders. It is an historic achievement."-- "Hagop S. Akiskal, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the International Mood Clinic, University of California at San Diego"

"This is a landmark book. It summarizes a tremendous amount of data from the systematic, long-term follow-up of the Iowa 500 samples. George Winokur and Ming Tsuang began working on this study approximately 25 years ago, and it is a monument to their unflagging commitment, excellent judgment, and high standards concerning psychiatric investigation. The data are invaluable, but their discussion and critique are equally important. I can't imagine any psychiatrist who would not want to read this book or who would not gain greatly from doing so. I fully expect the book to win wide respect and even a prize or two."-- "Samuel B. Guze, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri"

The Natural History of Mania, Depression, and Schizophrenia takes an unusual look at the course of mental illness, based on data from the Iowa 500 Research Project. This project involved the long-term (30--40 years) follow-up of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar illness.

After presenting a history and background of the study, the authors provide fascinating, verbatim interviews with patients at the time of hospital admission in the 1930s and 1940s. Eight of the 15 chapters are dedicated to the modern, systematic follow-up and family study of these patients. Medical students, residents, psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, ministers, and clinicians are offered an interesting look at what might be expected should treatment not be instituted with such patients.

Unlike earlier works that focused on the descriptive aspects of mental illness, this book provides clinicians with a more systematic evaluation of the symptom picture, course and outcome, and family history. It concludes with useful information on the diagnosis and classification of the affective disorders and chronic nonaffective psychoses.

George Winokur, M.D., is the Paul W. Penningroth Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa.

Ming T. Tsuang, M.D., Ph.D., is The Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.