Perpetuating Schizophrenia’s Stigma

[CTyankee]

PHILADELPHIA — A FEW months ago, a patient came to our hospital, seeking help. One of us, Edward, was on the team that treated him. He was pleasant, if slightly withdrawn, and cogent. He was a college graduate in his 20s and had recently been fired from his job as a high school math teacher, because of unexpected absences. He had come to believe that government agents were conspiring against him, and he had taken to living out of a truck and sleeping in different parking lots. By the time he came to us, he was exhausted. A diagnosis became clear: he had schizophrenia.

We admitted him to the hospital, and after a few days, with his symptoms under control, we released him. Unfortunately, we prescribed a medication for him that could cause significant, permanent harm, instead of an equally effective drug with milder side effects — all because he was uninsured.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/opinion/the-schizophrenia-penalty-.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

Effing Republican states that didn't take the Medicaid expansion! Real people with real mental illnesses are suffering...and what do the repukes care? Damn...

[redqueen]

1. K&R nt