Having a foundation for treatment for those who suffer from schizophrenia is very important to recovery. Depending on what type of treatment and how it is used will determine an individual's progress. E. Fuller Torrey makes the argument that antipsychotic drugs are the most useful and effective way for recovery. Against this belief is Robert Whitaker who believes that society reacts too quickly by just giving medication. Alternative solutions, such as moral therapy, should be used in order to fully recover. So, are antipsychotic medications the treatment of choice for people with psychosis?
E. Fuller Torrey, author of "The Treatment of Schizophrenia: Medications", believes that even though antipsychotic drugs cannot cure psychosis they do control it. Antipsychotic drugs were introduced in 1952 by a French psychiatrist by the name of Pierre Deniker. These drugs were split into two classes, first generation and second generation. First generations were considered "typical" because of their ability to block dopamine receptors while second generations were referred to as "atypical" for their action on other neurotransmitters. In the beginning, antipsychotics had some serious side effects, which included acute dystonia reactions, EPS, Akathisia and Parkinsonian - like symptoms. New and improved antipsychotic drugs have been created to have the same effectiveness but with fewer side effects. Overall "70 percent improved, 25 percent improved minimally or not at all and 5 percent got worse." The main purpose of these drugs are to "reduce symptoms, shorten hospitalization, and reduce re-hospitalization." Another advantage of these types of drugs is that 80 to 90 percent give relief to positive symptoms, which would include hallucinatio...
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...en his statement of “Over the past twenty-five years, outcomes for people in the United States with schizophrenia have worsened” comes with no evidence that his assumption has any truth or validity to it. He does make a list of people who authored various studies, Bockoven, Rappaport, Mosher, Van Putten, Harding and WHO and then makes general conclusions of what these studies had found. But he provides no details, statistics or even support that backs up with evidence what he is trying to point out to as fact.
In conclusion, both authors had very strong points; however, Torrey had the better foundation to his argument by backing it up with evidences along with having more scientific data and studies. Whitaker had a good opinion, but his evidence was not as strong. He did not have a valid plan on how we can change policies; because of this his argument was weak.
With all respect to the esteemed author and his colleague, this is a load of crap. Mental illnesses develop in relation to a variety of factors, including biochemical, environmental, and psychological. Placing all the blame on a method of entertainment makes no sense, akin to the fallacy that rock music causes cardiovascular difficulties. In addition, these statements center responsibility for such conditions on the individuals themselves, criticizing their intellectual capacities and communication abilities as well as media preferences. Such victim-blaming tactics clothed in the garb of spiritual criticism only serve to alienate the author to his either offended or wounded audience, while spreading a dangerous philosophy regarding mental
Classical antipsychotic treatments are commonly used to treat schizophrenic patients with major positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as Thorazine, Haldol, and Stelazine (Gleitman et al., 2011). Antipsychotic treatments are usually administered with a variety of psychosocial treatments including social skills training, vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, family therapy, or individual therapy (Barlow & Durand, 2014). This is to reduce relapse and help the patient improve their skills in deficits and comply in consuming the
Saks wrote this book to promote awareness about the reality of schizophrenia.... ... middle of paper ... ... Several studies reported that, although symptom remission could be obtained for 27% of patients within 4 weeks and 45% within 5 years following treatment initiation, 20– 30% of patients reached a treatment-resistant status on the other side.
-Lieberman JA, Stroup TS, McEvoy JP, Swartz MS, Rosenheck RA, Perkins DO, Keefe RS, Davis SM, Davis CE, Lebowitz BD, Severe J, Hsiao JK. Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenia. N Engl J Med. 2005. Web.
2)Strassman, R. Human Hallucinogenic Drug Research: Regulatory, Clinical and Scientific Issues. Brain Res. 162. 1990.
Schizophrenia is a deteriorating progressive disease, consequently, it is resistant to treatment for the individual suffering schizophrenia. (Catts & O’Toole, 2016). In most cases the individuals suffering from schizophrenia, are resistive to treatment, in most cases, individuals suffering from schizophrenia, and are resistive in taking antipsychotics. (Catts & O’Toole, 2016). Jeremy doesn’t see himself as a “schizophrenic”, he states that “he’s happy naturally”, and often he’s observed playing the guitar and doing painting in his room. Weekly, he has an intramuscular medication to treat his disorder, crediting the support of his wife. It is indicated that the morality rate, in patients suffering from schizophrenia is higher, despite the considerable resources available, in Australia. New data show that in 20 countries, including Australia, only 13.5% meet the recovery criteria, which means that 1or 2 patients in every 100, will meet this criteria per year. (Catts & O’Toole, 2016). This means that there’s a decline in providing support and services to individuals like Jeremy suffering from a mental illness such as Schizophrenia. Many individuals become severely ill before they realise they need medical treatment, and when receiving treatment it is usually short-term. (Nielssen, McGorry, Castle & Galletly, 2017). The RANZCP guidelines highlights that
Duckworth M.D., Ken. “Schizophrenia.” NAMI.org. National Alliance on Mental Illness, Feb. 2007. Web. 28 March 2010.
Before antipsychotic drugs, people were locked away in asylums and in some cases doctors would use a surgical procedure for cutting nerve pathways in the frontal lobes of the brain, called lobotomy. Then around the 1950’s to the 1980’s, the first generation of antipsychotics was discovered. These drugs were developed because there was a lack of facilities for mental patients and very few people to care for these people. Apparently antipsychotic drugs are more humane for civilians with mental illnesses (Sue).
Second, the court must conclude that involuntary medication will significantly further those concomitant state interests. Third, the court must conclude that involuntary medication is necessary to further those interests. The court must find that any alternative, less intrusive treatments are unlikely to achieve substantially the same results. Fourth, as we have said, the court must conclude that administration of the drugs is medically appropriate, i.e., in the patient's best medical interest in light of his medical condition. The specific kinds of drugs at issue may matter here as elsewhere. Different kinds of antipsychotic drugs may produce different side effects and enjoy differen...
Valmaggia LR, van der Gaag M, Tarrier N, Pijnenborg M, Slooff CJ. (2005) Cognitive–behavioural therapy for refractory psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia resistant to atypical antipsychotic medication The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 186: 324-330
Because of this, there has been a terrifying increase in the need for mental health professionals over the past 70 years. The article states that “the majority of patients in therapy do not warrant a psychiatric diagnosis” meaning problems that used to be considered normal or easy to handle are now being approached by such professionals. Stephen Marche is an author of novels and participates in a monthly column for Esquire magazine. His work has been featured in many well-known newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times Magazine, The Toronto Star and The New Republic.
Schizophrenia requires a lifetime of treatment through either medications and therapy, in many cases both is needed. Psychiatrist’s help patients survive through the disease. Another form to treat schizophrenia is through antipsychotic medications which are most commonly prescribed drugs to treat schizophrenia.
Hallucinogens: a general group of pharmacological agents that can be divided into three broad categories: psychedelics, dissociatives, and deliriants. Hallucinogenic drugs have played a role in civilization for thousands of year. It began with naturally occurring hallucinogens, such as the peyote cactus plant and wild mushrooms. Now there are man made drugs that have the same or more intense affects. These include lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), MDMA (ecstasy), and dextromethorphan (DMX, often found in cough syrup). Within this essay, I will cover the history, production, and affects of hallucinogenic drugs.
Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic mental disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality and disturbances of thought, mood, and perception. Schizophrenia is the most common and the most potentially sever and disabling of the psychosis, a term encompassing several severe mental disorders that result in the loss of contact with reality along with major personality derangements. Schizophrenia patients experience delusions, hallucinations and often lose thought process. Schizophrenia affects an estimated one percent of the population in every country of the world. Victims share a range of symptoms that can be devastating to themselves as well as to families and friends. They may have trouble dealing with the most minor everyday stresses and insignificant changes in their surroundings. They may avoid social contact, ignore personal hygiene and behave oddly (Kass, 194). Many people outside the mental health profession believe that schizophrenia refers to a “split personality”. The word “schizophrenia” comes from the Greek schizo, meaning split and phrenia refers to the diaphragm once thought to be the location of a person’s mind and soul. When the word “schizophrenia” was established by European psychiatrists, they meant to describe a shattering, or breakdown, of basic psychological functions. Eugene Bleuler is one of the most influential psychiatrists of his time. He is best known today for his introduction of the term “schizophrenia” to describe the disorder previously known as dementia praecox and for his studies of schizophrenics. The illness can best be described as a collection of particular symptoms that usually fall into four basic categories: formal thought disorder, perception disorder, feeling/emotional disturbance, and behavior disorders (Young, 23). People with schizophrenia describe strange of unrealistic thoughts. Their speech is sometimes hard to follow because of disordered thinking. Phrases seem disconnected, and ideas move from topic to topic with no logical pattern in what is being said. In some cases, individuals with schizophrenia say that they have no idea at all or that their heads seem “empty”. Many schizophrenic patients think they possess extraordinary powers such as x-ray vision or super strength. They may believe that their thoughts are being controlled by others or that everyone knows what they are thinking. These beliefs ar...
New drugs are being made in order to address the issue of undesirable and intolerable side effects of conventional antipsychotic drugs. Works Cited Comer, R. J. & Co., Inc. (2011). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology. New York, NY. Worth Publishers Nasar, S. (2001).A beautiful mind: the life of mathematical genius and Nobel laureate John Nash.