MENTALLY ILL BIRDS OF A FEATHER ...

Professor John McGrath from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research estimates the prevalence of shizophrenia to be around seven or eight in 1000 people. What then to make of this?

At least two of the 13 Melbourne men currently facing charges over terrorism-related offences suffer from severe mental illness, an investigation by ABC's AM has established.

A medical report given to Victorian police reveals that one of the accused suffers from, among other things, manic episodes, psychosis and auditory hallucinations.

Two of the men have suffered from schizophrenia for at least two years and one has been in and out of psychiatric institutions in Victoria.

One of the men, whom AM refers to as Mr P, has been in and out of psychiatric care for at least two years, having suffered regular schizophrenic episodes.

AM has spoken to members of Mr P's family as well as medical staff who have treated him.

They say he has, at times, been severely addicted to the drug known as crystal methampetamine, or ice as it is commonly known.

Maybe these guys were simply a 13 man schizophrenia support group.