Submitted for your consideration:

[otherlander]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/26/AR2005062601091.html

[Javaman]

1. I'm probably wrong, but I recall reading someplace that as a person with

schizophrenia, the effects lessen.

I could be wrong, it's just something I recall reading.

[uppityperson]

4. What do you mean "the effects lessen"? Thanks.

[Javaman]

5. not as severe. hallucinations aren't as frequent, mood shifting is less.

that sort of thing. just something I read about a year ago.

However, in a real world example. A friend of mine grew up with a father that was severely schizophrenic. As time went by, he got more and more stable with the same meds till he no longer needed them. He's in his late 60's now.

So who knows, maybe some do and others don't?

:shrug:

[uppityperson]

6. Thanks for the reply. I think some do, but many don't. It also depends

on diagnosis. Family member was dx schizophrenia back in 70's, now is more accurately dxed with personality disorder.

For those with true schizophrenia, I have read that some young people "grow out of it", while I also know some who haven't and are still needing meds, still talking to people I can't see or perceive.

[JuniperLea]

2. "Schizophrenia" is a dumping ground diagnosis...

This is the first I've heard of anyone ever being "healed" or "cured" at all. I have a schizophrenic family member and have read volumes, hence my subject line.

People with peanut allergies have been diagnosed as schizophrenics... perhaps this woman stopped eating peanuts... color me highly skeptical.

[uppityperson]

3. Depends on the diagnoses and here are some telling bits of article...

It depends on what the person really has as they can be wrongly diagnosed, schizophrenia (used to be) the catchall for "wtf is wrong with them?" Part of this article is from that time, and part of it relies on family involvement. Part of that is in USAnian culture, we are each "supposed to be" independent of each other. Part of it is like below, MAKE SURE THEY TAKE THEIR MEDS

"My theory is that the family here ensures they take medication properly," said the psychiatrist, who prefers to be identified by the single name Thara. "Compliance is a problem in the West." If patients refuse medication, Thara instructs families to crush the pills and disguise the medicine in food."

Different social acceptance customs. Here we have revolving door syndrome.

While work and family are clearly beneficial for patients, Thara acknowledged that caregivers, who are usually women, pay a price. "My parents told me to get married," said one Chennai woman, C. Chitra, whose marriage was arranged when she was 23. Her in-laws, who came from a wealthier family, had told her only that her husband-to-be sometimes "got angry." Chitra thought nothing of it: "Everyone gets angry." But her 34-year-old husband had schizophrenia. "He hit me without reason," she said.

Chitra did not consider divorce: She felt her options as a poor, divorced woman would be worse. Shortly thereafter, her husband's brother moved in with them -- and he had schizophrenia, too. Chitra cared for both men, dealt with their psychoses and calmed them when they turned violent.


It depends on what is meant by "better". Yes, we do need some MAJOR fixing of mental health care in the USA, but not sure if what is written in this article is "better".

"Is it possible that a mental health system which is poor, deprived, with no resources, no drugs is providing better and more humane and sensible service to the population rather than in rich countries?" WHO's Saraceno asked. "Good mental health service doesn't require big technologies but human technologies. Sometimes, you get better human technologies in the streets of Rio than in the center of Rome."