https://www.madinamerica.com/201...efy-treatment-do-better/Quote:Harrow’s study does not challenge the idea that for those in the acute phase of a psychotic reaction, the short-term use of some tranquilizing medication can be helpful. Harrow’s results do challenge the idea that all patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders need to remain on psychiatric medication throughout their lives.
Quote:“Recovery,” according to the study criteria, required no psychotic symptoms, no rehospitalizations during the follow-up year, and partially adequate (or better) work and social functioning. Among the schizophrenia patients who remained continuously on antipsychotics throughout the 20 years of the study, only 17% ever entered into any period of recovery during any of the six follow-ups. By contrast, among the schizophrenia patients who remained off antipsychotics after the two-year follow-up and for the remainder of the 20 years, 87% experienced two or more periods of recovery.
Quote:The psychiatric establishment would like the public to believe that diagnosed schizophrenics who stopped taking their medication and gained recovery must have either been misdiagnosed or were less severely psychotic. However, Harrow makes clear, “At the 2-year assessment there were no significant differences in severity of psychosis between SZ on antipsychotic medications and SZ not on any medications. However, starting at the 4.5-year follow-ups and continuing over the next 15 years, the SZ who were not on antipsychotic medications were significantly less psychotic than those on antipsychotics.”
A family member has schizophrenia and has been on anti psychotics for decades. I've watched him over the years seem to get progressively less intelligent, more anxious--but also, over the years, experience less and less extreme bouts of madness. Well, he is continuously delusional, but does not allow the wierd ideas to control his life too much, and does not bug out because of them. Anymore.
I've seen him at his worst and I am absolutely not arguing against medication entirely. I'm not arguing anything, in fact. I just look back and wonder--would a supportive environment and temprary meds have served him better?Better than life-long usage of anti-psychotics. BTW, I've tried anti-psyches--no fun. Once upon a time, he and I seemed of comparable intelligence--now, he seems a little slow, for example he now has trouble with math, which he once excelled at.
I've pondered over his situation and wondered how he would fair without the meds, but since he's stable now....and I wonder how would he be taken off the meds now, with his reduced cognitive capacity.
Anyway, I'm not asking for advice on his situation, not seeking nor offering medical advice of any kind here. Harrow's study is quite interesting to me.
"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." Albert Einstein
I appreciate your perspective.