Ask Us Anything

A handful of questions reach our inbox week after week. Rather than answer them one email at a time, we have collected them here. If yours is not on the list, the Get in Touch page explains how to send it.

About the site

Who runs Inside Schizophrenia?

A small team of three writers who publish under pen names. You can meet them on The People Behind These Leaflets.

Are any of you doctors or dentists?

No. None of us holds a medical, dental, nursing or pharmacy qualification, and we never present ourselves as if we did. We read official guidance carefully and write it up in plain language.

Do articles mention brands?

Some do, and a few link to the companies concerned. A mention is not a recommendation, and anything that touches your health is worth raising with a doctor or pharmacist first.

About advice

Can you tell me whether my symptom is serious?

We are not able to. Only someone who can examine you and knows your history can answer that. For a quick first opinion, a pharmacist is often the easiest professional to reach. If it feels urgent, ring your local emergency number straight away.

Can you recommend a toothpaste, brush or device?

We describe what to look for, such as soft bristles or a fluoride toothpaste, but we do not recommend individual brands. Your dentist can suggest what suits your mouth.

Do you think I should switch from cigarettes to vaping?

That is a personal decision and worth discussing with a GP, pharmacist or stop-smoking service. Our articles set out the general pros and cons for adult smokers; they are not a recommendation for any one person.

About the articles

How do you choose topics?

Mostly from reader questions and from things we have puzzled over ourselves. We favour everyday problems with clear, safe answers, such as when to replace a toothbrush.

How often are articles updated?

We reread older pages regularly and update them when guidance changes or a reader points out a problem. The date at the top tells you when a page was last revised.

May I pass an article on or quote from it?

Linking is always welcome, and short quotes with a link back are fine. Anything beyond that needs our permission by email. The details are in our Conditions of Use.

About your data

Do you track me?

No. There are no analytics or advertising tools on the site. The full explanation is on How We Handle Data.

Will you keep my email?

Only as long as we need it to reply. We do not run a mailing list.