Includes bibliographical references.

"Catherine, nineteen years old and suffering from severe schizophrenia, sat in a mental hospital - mute, catatonic, and hearing voices. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Dorman, was convinced that his patient's psychotic behavior was rooted not merely in chemical imbalances but rather in the dramatic circumstances of her family history. He was therefore determined to avoid the mind-numbing medications that had been so detrimental to Catherine's well-being. Dorman fought adamant opposition and criticism from hes peers and superiors for a chance to guide Catherine out of madness." "The story of a young doctor finding his own path in a controversial new world of anti-psychotic drugs, where patients have nowhere to turn, Dante's Cure is the true account of a therapeutic process that took place over seven years. Thanks to Dorman's devotion, persistence, and understanding of the role of the therapist, Catherine was able to set out on a life of her own. She is now a psychiatric nurse in southern California living free of medication; she speaks out on behalf of patient's rights and humane treatment in the medical profession. Dorman re-creates Catherine's early life and the onset of her illness in striking detail, covering her treatment prior to his meeting her as resident at UCLA Hospital, through her recovery and work as a nurse and activist."--BOOK JACKET