Posted by alexandra_k on July 28, 2005, at 1:02:57
In reply to Re: yup, posted by med_empowered on July 27, 2005, at 3:44:25
hey. thanks for an interesting post :-)
i think...
that anti-psychotics are actually fairly effective with respect to reducing the positive symptoms of schizophrenia: the delusions, the hallucinations, the formal thought disorder.
it is the negative symptoms, however, that are more debiliating: the social withdrawal etc.
there isn't a lot that seems to help with the negative symptoms (social support is great there as would be social skills training IMO though i guess lack of motivation / interest is hard).
but with respect to positive symptoms... we probably consider the negative symptoms to be more debilitating because of the relative success of bringing those positive symptoms under control...
via anti-psychotics
imo some doctors have a tendancy to over-prescribe in general. i remember (not very well admittedly) being on huge dosages of chlorpromazine basically with the intent of turning me into a vegetable.though, to try and be fair... an ALIVE vegetable. i suppose that was the point...
its hard because it depends a lot on how those positive symptoms actually do interfeare with ones quality of life.
one of my friends, for instance, used to be OUTRAGED when he was made to have his injection. but without his injection he had a tendancy to gather implements such as long steel poles and go stand outside the cop station fully intent on wacking them around.
it depends...
it depends on those positive symptoms...
but there has been an unfortunate tendancy in the history of psychiatry to use it as an 'excuse' to opress certain groups of people who deviated from that norm. that is true. In Russia people who opposed the political regeime were considered to be mentally ill and in some instances institutionalised. there was a special kind of disorder in which slaves ran away from their owners. and of course homosexuality... and lots of clinicians attitudes towards people in general and towards people with mental illness in particular leave a lot to be desired. that is true as well.but... there are some people out there really trying to help...
and... they can help sometimes. some of the meds do provide some relief...but treatment orders are hard, yes.
:-(
poster:alexandra_k
thread:533472
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050723/msgs/534622.html