The Cause of Mental Illness

I was astonished when I read Dr. Thomas Szasz’s remarks Dec. 26.

I have a great deal of respect for the Libertarian Party, but I doubt if it would support his views.

I’m certain that he doesn’t give generously to the poor unfortunate people psychiatry has “messed up” when he receives his royalty checks from his 18 books nor from his private practice, where I’m sure his fees are as high as his ego.

If he did a little more reading and less writing, he might have read that “schizophrenia” is in a pathology textbook and can be genetically caused. Szasz says disease must be an illness of the organs. Isn’t the brain an organ?

The “doctor” wants to convince people that mental illness isn’t real?

This is ludicrous.

Thank God we have mental health professionals like Dr. Martin Brenner, president of the Orange County Psychiatric Assn., who is probably too busy reading journals and helping people instead of writing “pop-psych” books.

M. O’CONNOR PAIGE

Newport Beach