Mental illnesses comprise a set of clinical syndromes of bewildering complexity and suffering.
The last 30 years have seen a significant improvement in our ability to help persons with mental disorders, through medications and psychological therapies. Still, we know very little of how the brain can produce crippling attacks of anxiety or tormenting inner voices. The Hospital Division in the Department of Psychiatry sponsors active research programs, briefly described below. The Schizophrenia Program conducts ongoing studies of new anti- psychotic medications. Opportunities are available for persons with schizophrenia to enter these trials and have a chance to try new medications.