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I was diagnosed schizophrenic -- among other things -- in an in-patient program for children. The parent is sensationalizing a good bit, but I agree with his o

I was diagnosed schizophrenic -- among other things -- in an in-patient program for children. The parent is sensationalizing a good bit, but I agree with his overal point: treatment of schizphrenics -- and other "untouchables" syndromes -- is very poor. Antipsychotics are hell. Full stop. Even for next-generation pharmaceuticals. Risperidone took away the delusions, and every other faucet of myself that made me human. Can it improve quality of life? Yes, it can. If the case is severe enough that the patient is endangering themselves or others (through violence or neglect), antipsychotics can sedate their impulses and delusions. I would describe it as a short-term (if ceased within a reasonable timeframe) chemical lobotomy. No hyperbole. I was lucky that I'm fairly educated, quick of mind, and primarily presented with negative symptoms (catatonic subset). Delusions and psychosis are transient, and I'm able to reflect on them, identify when they pop up, and not act on them. For someone that is in a near-constant state of psychosis, antipsychotics are really al that can be done, but I personally would rather be dead, than a husk. If I were still on them, I probably wouldn't believe this because the drugs would take away some of my agency. I'm now on a hefty dosage of a certain dopamine agonist, and it has improved my quality of life immensely. There are stil bugs, and psychosis and delusion are much more common now, but I have a good grasp on them and wouldn't want to to back to being a shel of a human. It's dehumanizing and violates my dignity.

dsego 7y ago
I would disagree that the parent was just sensationalizing, they implied malice and thought-control by the "evil" doctors. There's no hidden agenda, no conspiracy. We don't know the illness well enough and the treatments are nasty. But the doctors are doing what they can to help people, and like you said, it does help. And the psychiatrists always try to lower the dosage to a minimum to avoid the terrible side-effects. From what I've seen haldol and leponex are nothing short of miracle drugs, they worked when all else failed. The disease is dehumanizing, not the treatment.

dsego 7y ago

I would disagree that the parent was just sensationalizing, they implied malice and thought-control by the "evil" doctors. There's no hidden agenda, no conspiracy. We don't know the illness well enough and the treatments are nasty. But the doctors are doing what they can to help people, and like you said, it does help. And the psychiatrists always try to lower the dosage to a minimum to avoid the terrible side-effects. From what I've seen haldol and leponex are nothing short of miracle drugs, they worked when all else failed. The disease is dehumanizing, not the treatment.