2026-05-10T19:50:19Z

Interview with Samuel J. Keith, M.D.

Abstract Or Scope

Dr. Keith talks about the role and expertise of NIMH that was crucial to the success of the 1989 U.S. psychiatric mission to the U.S.S.R. He recapitulates the main points and stumbling blocks of the negotiations with the Soviets in November 1988, various organizational aspects of the mission, as well as the interview instruments and methodology used by the American team. Dr. Keith shares his opinion about the concept of sluggish schizophrenia, its diagnostic criteria, and other factors that made it possible to abuse psychiatry in the Soviet Union. He also emphasizes Soviet life, society, and governance as of 1989. Dr. Keith discusses the Soviets' admission of "hyperdiagnoses" and the validity of the excuse of "hyperdiagnoses" from the professional point of view. He also expresses his opinion about the tone of the final report and the general context that the American team had to keep in mind when drafting it. Dr. Keith describes Schizophrenia Bulletin and his role as its editor-in-chief. He also talks about the 1990 Soviet Reciprocal Visit to the U.S.