A likeable fellow presented himself as a victim of corporate intrigue and would have been past suspicion except for his telling me his story in my office where sometimes I help you best if I am suspicious of what you say. I probed and found that he had a similar story for his last three jobs. There were references to gunfire in one and he finally lost me with: "The single bullet theory was really about me, not about John Kennedy..." I still liked the guy and but forgot him for decades. I, however, now think of him more often. I give all of you this in reference to no one and everyone...

JB
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Diagnostic and Statisical Manual IV, American Psychiatric Assn., p 285:

"Diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia
A. Characteristic symptoms: Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated):
1) delusions
2) hallucinations
3) disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)
4) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
5) negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avoliton.
B. Social/occupational dysfunction...
C. Duration...
D. Schizoaffective and Mood Disorder exclusion...
E. Substance/general medical condition exclusion...
F. Relationship to a Pervasive Developmental Disorder..."

Such are the earmarks of schizophrenia unless you're paranoid. Note the contrasts on p. 287 between what you just read and the features of paranoid schizophrenia. Think also about Soviet use of hospitalization to treat dissidents and the possible applications of that method in this country:

"295.30 Paranoid Type" (italics added by JB)

The essential feature of the Paranoid type of Schizophrenia is the presence of prominent delusions or auditory hallucinations in the context of a relative preservation of cognitive functioning and affect. Symptoms of the Disorganized or Catatonic Types (e.g., disorganized speech, flat or inappropriate affect, catatonic or disorganized behavior) are not prominent. Delusions are typically persecutory or grandiose, or both, but delusions with other themes (e.g., jealousy, religiosity, or somatization) may also occur. The delusions may be multiple, but are usually organized around a coherent theme. Hallucinations are also typically related to the content of the delusional theme. Associated features include anxiety, anger, aloofness, and argumentativeness. The individual may have a superior and patronizing manner and either a stilted, formal quality or extreme intensity in interpersonal interactions. The persecutory themes may predispose the individual to suicidal behavior, and the combination of persecutory and grandiose delusions with anger may predispose the individual to violence. Onset tends to be later in life than the other types of Schizophrenia, and the distinguishing characteristics may be more stable over time. These individuals usually show little or not impairment on neuropsychological or other cognitive testing. Some evidence suggests that the prognosis for the Paranoid Type may be considerably better than for the other types of Schizophrenia, particularly with regard to occupational functioning and capacity for independent living."


References:
American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (4th Ed.) Washington, D.C. Also (2000) Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Assn, Arlington, VA.