Schizophrenia – alternative Support By Shuresh Patel Student University of Bolton

Brief history of schizophrenia The concept of “dementia praecox” which is the early term for schizophrenia and first established as late as 1898 was initially formulated by a German and Swiss psychiatrists namely Kraepelin and Bleuler. “Dementia” means a progressive intellectual deterioration and “praecox” means an early onset. The “dementia” however is not that associated with the ageing process but rather a term which Kraepelin saw as mental enfeeblement. The original major symptoms of schizophrenia according to Kraepelin are “hallucinations, delusions, negativism, attentional difficulties, stereotyped behaviour and emotional dysfunction.” Bleuler broke ranks with Kraepelin on two major points. He did not necessarily believe that schizophrenia had an early onset and that it did not necessarily head towards dementia. Thus in 1908, Bleuler coined the new name of SCHIZOPHRENIA from the Greek roots of “schizen” meaning to split and “phren” meaning mind. In his opinion, this summed up the essential nature of the condition and it is still called this today (Bootzin, Acocella, Alloy p365).

My experience with medication treatments For 15 years, severe Parkinson’s disease and heavy sedation were the awful side effects of my weekly schizophrenia depot injection of 50mg of depixol. As a result, I functioned 2 cognitive cylinders down for 3 to 4 days of each week. My 6 years of therapy reduced this depixol medication by 60% and the quality of my lifestyle improved tremendously.

Drug treatment experience continued In April 2008, I moved over to Risperidone 6mg daily which is 10% more than my former depixol injection. So far, there are far less sedative side effects and the occurrence of Parkinson’s is greatly reduced.

Non Drug Treatments In October 2002, my schizophrenic medication reduction started – under MEDICAL SUPERVISION. At the same time, I started to have weekly sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy – plus psychotherapy and counselling. Now, nearly five years on, I have achieved a 64% medication reduction. This tremendous reduction has only been possible by persevering with my weekly therapy sessions, which have enabled me to cope with the substantial withdrawal symptoms – such as an increase in hearing voices, paranoia and delusional ideas. Simultaneously, I was studying for a psychology degree at the University of Bolton and my LEA, funded my therapies as part of my disabled student package. I have found that these alternative therapies are an excellent replacement for my previous, extensive medications, but I will probably continue to be on some medication for the rest of my life.

Effects of Non Drug Treatments I want to stress that such therapies need to be experienced over a number of years in order to be effective. The 12 weeks of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on offer from the British National Health Service I found to be inadequate. 12 weeks of CBT is not long enough for a single medication reduction i.e. 5mgs. Even the International Pharmaceutical Industry recommends at least 16 weeks for a single medication reduction.

Alternative Therapies Using alternative therapies like clinical hypnotherapy, acupuncture, CBT, Psychotherapy and Counselling to counter mental illness requires a long term/on going commitment in order to have a lasting effect; these deep problems can only be accessed at an unconscious mind level and this can literally take years.

My further suggestion Finally, I am recommending that these long term alternative therapies should be incorporated as an officially accepted support to the Medical Model in schizophrenia. People suffering from schizophrenia should have a right, as a matter of course, to these alternative therapies. If they don’t have official access to these alternative therapies, then it is possible that they are being discriminated against, and their Human Rights abused.

References Bootzin, Acocella & Alloy (1993,)Abnormal Psychology Current Perspectives, 6th edition, McGraw-Hill,INC. Hewitt, R. (2007), Moving On: A handbook of good health and recovery. For people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Karnac Publishers.