In some patients the distortion of the body image becomes the focal point of the psychotic transformation. The body image can be studied from three different points of view: (1) as a body schema, or a neurological engram; (2) as a percept, or, in a more general way, as an experience; (3) as a concept, which is altered by the delusional ideation or at least by the psychodynamic conflict of the patient.

Arieti describes psychotherapy of schizophrenic patients as he practiced it.

Although psychodynamic interpretations are much better known, interpretations concerning mechanisms and forms are also important, especially at an early phase of treatment.

Psychodynamic analysis of the schizophrenic consists of interpreting to the patient his past and present life. He is helped to become aware of his unconscious motivation and to acquire insight into the origin and development of the psychological components of his disorder.

The treatment of the schizophrenic cannot consist only of the sessions, but an active participation in his life is necessary, as many authors have reported. The patient needs to feel that many events in his life are shared by the therapist.

In this chapter Arieti reports the cases of two patients who have been treated with intensive and prolonged psychotherapy. The psychodynamics and the psychostructure of the symptomatology are interpreted, and the psychotherapeutic procedure is described in great detail.

In spite of the limitations of the social treatment of chronic schizophrenia, there seems to be no doubt that good social conditions and a spirit of therapeutic community are helpful.

This chapter deals with the major aspects of drug therapy in reference to schizophrenia only. The criteria for selecting drug therapy over other types of treatment or in conjunction with psychotherapy are discussed in The Choice of Treatment.

Physical therapies of schizophrenia are not as frequent as they used to be. However, because they remain in the therapeutic armamentarium of many psychiatrists, a brief description of them and a critical discussion of their use is presented.