Page    1   2   of this article. Schizophrenia  E. F. Baker  Jour. of Orgonomy V 7 no. 1   There is usually no need for muscular armoring as found in the neurotics, because the energy is low and all activity is kept at a minimum. Thus the schizophrenic has essentially no defense against an increase in charge, which he is unable to tolerate. He goes off in the eyes and becomes psychotic. This occurs particularly during adolescence, when excitation is highest; which explains why schizophrenia is largely a disease of adolescence and young adulthood. Psychosis is produced because of the eye block, as it causes a split between sensation and the perception of that sensation. Thus sensations, which remain strong in schizophrenics, are not properly perceived and may be interpreted as "forces," "electric currents," or "machines," which work on them through "evil persons" or influences. This split, it seems, is a result of the lack of development of binocular vision. In the schizophrenic, we have a withdrawal in the eyes and a contraction at the base of the brain. Schizophrenics frequently complain that their brains are "dead" or "rotting," or that there is "a stone" in their heads. Reich states 2 that schizophrenia is a mixture of objective biophysical processes and the psychological perception of and reaction to these processes. The core of the problem is the disruption of the unitary energy functioning and the subjective perception of this disruption. The faraway look, the trance, automatism, cerea flexibilitatis, catalepsy, and of the slowing of reactions are direct expressions of the biophysical disturbance; other symptoms, such as disorientation, loss of the lower of association, the loss of the meaning of words, and withdrawal of inter-ests are secondary reactions to this disruption. The later general deterioration is due to general shrinking of the organism and disuse. There is still a further element which has not been discussed. This is projection. Projection is essentially the process of recession of the to perceive and depends on the loss of binocular vision. Binocular vision gives us a proper perspective of our environment, as well as of ourselves or self-perception. In projection, self-perception is severely disturbed, and the result is the illusion of sensory impression from outside the organism. The function of self-perception depends on the contact between objective excitation and the subjective feeling of the excitation. Consciousness is a function of self-perception and vice versa. When the function of self-perception deteriorates, the function of consciousness also deteriorates and with it all its functions, such as speech, orientation, and association. Disorientation and confusion are the first to occur followed by disorders of thought, association, and coordinated speech. Consciousness depends not so much on the strength or intensity of self-perception as of the innumerable elements on the more or less complete integration of self-perception into one single experience of the self. Treatment The principle of therapy is quite simple: merely to remove the chronic contraction which interferes with the free flow of energy throughout the organism and thus restore natural functioning. In practice, it may be extremely difficult and complex. There are essentially three avenues of approach, the importance of each depending on the individual case, although all three are necessary tools in every therapy. They are (1) increasing the inner push on the organism by building up its energy through breathing, (2) directly attacking the spastic muscles to free the contraction, and (3) maintaining the cooperation of the patient by bringing into the open and overcoming his resistances to the therapy and the therapist. This last is extremely important because the patient will in every way try to maintain his immobility and try desperately not to reveal himself. Behind this is intense fear of expansion and movement. Anxiety is the basis for repression and is behind all contraction. If it were not for anxiety, the emotion could not be held back in the first place. The patient's organism is always trying to control anxiety and repress his forbidden feelings. The most important emotion to elicit is rage (hate), and, until this is released, the patient cannot allow the softer feelings of longing and love to emerge. Although there are seven muscular segments in the body, two segments are of primary importance in schizophrenia, the ocular and cervical. The ocular segment is concerned with all contact at a distance -- distance reception. This the schizophrenic has poorly attained. Armoring consists of a contraction and immobilization of the greater part of all of the muscles around the eye, eyelids, forehead, and tear glands, as well as the deep muscles at the base of the occiput, involving even the brain itself. Contraction here seems to be largely in the vegetative centers. This contraction causes and maintains the muscular contraction and is a result of the original inhibitions. Armoring is expressed in an immobilized forehead (it appears flat) and eyelids. The flesh at the side of the nose is smooth and waxy. The patient is unable to open his eyes wide. The expression is empty or as if the individual were staring into space. The more emotion brought up by looking, the less clearly can the individual see. The pupils usually are dilated, indicating deep anxiety, and one frequently finds myopia. Anxiety or suspicion may be openly apparent, and the schizophrenic is frank to tell you he does not trust you. The schizophrenic is characteristically shy and easily frightened. He must be handled cautiously. Get him to open his eyes. This will create panic from movement of energy and from a flood of sensations. The panic starts the breathing. Too much sensation will cause him to go off in his eyes and become psychotic. One does not proceed unless the patient is in contact. The eye segment is mobilized by baving him roll his eyes and move his forehead or follow a moving light with his eyes. Also useful is reducing the spasm of the occipital muscles. He must be desensitized to stimuli from the eye segment. This can be done by having him repeatedly go away in the eyes and bring himself back. As the ocular segment is mobilized, muscular armoring will take place in the lower segments and must in turn be broken down. The cervical segment also requires attention. This is severely contracted, and the schizophrenic will talk with a very low, soft voice. Anger and crying are literally swallowed down without the patient's even being aware of it and must be brought out. One relieves the contraction by eliciting the gag reflex and reducing the spasms of the sternocleidomastoids and deep muscles of the neck accompanied by screaming and yelling. One remembers the neck is very vulnerable and proceeds with great caution, as there are many important nerves and vessels, and also the larynx, all of which can be easily injured. In schizophrenia, one proceeds slowly and cautiously. It is always easy to precipitate a psychosis; sometimes this cannot be avoided. However, treatment may still be carried forward as long as one can maintain the cooperation of the patient.   Love, work and knowledge are the well-springs of our life They should also govern it. Wilhelm Reich   Page    1  2  of this article.   2  See W. Reich, Character Analysis, Orgone Institute Press, New York, 1949, page 435.  back to text