Ronald K. Siegel "Whispers. Things about paranoia"

Author: Ronald K. Siegel Original title: Whispers Medical subject: Psychiatry. Delusions. Paranoia. Schizophrenia. Description: Delusions are thought disorders characterized by erroneous judgments and a distorted perception of reality. In Siegel’s book, each chapter is an engaging story about a different patient exhibiting these types of problems. Drawing on his own experiences as a psychopharmacologist, the author presents stories of people who, at some point in their lives, crossed the invisible barrier into mental illness. From ordinary individuals who were perfectly capable of coping with life, they became suffering paranoids. The causes of such a turn of events are often unknown or difficult to pinpoint; they lie deep in childhood and are frequently linked to the use of certain drugs. In one chapter, the author himself takes cocaine to gain the best possible insight into the patient’s psyche and understand the state he was in at the time of the crime. Throughout the book, we witness a series of absurd behaviors that, taken out of context, are deeply shocking at first glance, but upon delving into the full story, become in a sense obvious and understandable. The “demon of paranoia” also infects the reader.