A new device offers an opportunity to walk in the shoes of a schizophrenic. Janssen Pharmaceutica has recently developed, along with a panel of psychiatrists and mental patients, goggles that make this possible. With this technology, patients and doctors get a chance to see the outside world through the eyes of a schizophrenic.
Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses, doctors say.
Breakthrough hallucination technology offered by Janssen gives doctors and even family members of schizophrenics an opportunity to see the world as a schizophrenic sees it. Janssen's research finds that an estimated that 2.5 million Americans suffer from this biological brain disorder. In some news stories, schizophrenics are portrayed as having violent behavior, but research shows that schizophrenics are rarely a harm to others. The symptoms of this illness include, delusions, hallucinations and social withdrawal. Dr. Stephen Goldfinger, of State University of New York Health Sciences, says understanding what the patient is going through is key to treating and understanding this mental illness.