| Psychologist R.D. Laing once said, "Schizophrenia | | | | The danger, of course, is dizziness, high blood pressure, |
| cannot be understood without understanding despair." | | | | drowsiness and even seizures, although these side |
| The most debilitating facet of this mental illness is the | | | | effects are extremely rare. Careful monitoring must be |
| negative emotion generated, in addition to the disruptive | | | | done with Clozapine to prevent a fatal bone marrow |
| nature. | | | | toxicity that can develop. |
| Not only may a person have the typical hallucinations, | | | | Other treatment drugs include: Chloropromazine, |
| but chances are, he or she will also feel a high degree | | | | Fluphenazine, Geodon, Moban, Paliperidone, Sarcosine, |
| of social anxiety, listlessness and suicidal tendencies. | | | | Thioridazine, Ziprasidone and Zyprexa (which is also |
| Schizophrenia treatment almost always involves | | | | used to treat bipolar disorder). This year the FDA is |
| life-long drugs, but should be accompanied by clinical | | | | meeting to discuss making a longer lasting, injectable |
| psychiatry and schizophrenia support, most importantly. | | | | form of Zyprexa available, although they fear severe |
| Within the United States, there are fourteen clinics that | | | | drowsiness may ensue. |
| specialize in schizophrenia treatment. For example, the | | | | However, it's honestly tough to tell which schizophrenia |
| Center Of Prevention & Evaluation (COPE) is a | | | | drug works best because of industry bias. Dr. John |
| popular treatment program that can be found in New | | | | Davis reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry: |
| York, or there's the Early Assessment and Support | | | | "On the basis of these contrasting findings in |
| Team (EAST). | | | | head-to-head trials, it appears that whichever company |
| There are generally five phases for these programs, | | | | sponsors the trial produces the better anti-psychotic |
| with each phase lasting up to six months. Counselors | | | | drug." |
| help schizophrenics meet goals, adapt to group | | | | As of 2008, Merck Corporation made a $700 million |
| situations, develop a long term plan and even find | | | | deal with Addex Pharmaceuticals of Switzerland to |
| work. | | | | develop a new schizophrenia drug. Uwe Reinhardt, a |
| For a treatment of schizophrenia that doubles as a | | | | political economist at Princeton, feels that the reason |
| mood enhancer, used especially in cases where | | | | patients are dissatisfied with many schizophrenia |
| patients are suicidal, Clozapine may be administered. | | | | treatment drugs is related to efforts by Congress to |
| This anti-psychotic drug restores the body's | | | | keep drug companies happy. "I have come to believe |
| neurotransmitter functions, decreases nervousness, | | | | a lot of inefficiency is quite deliberate," he commented. |
| increases positive feelings and combats hallucinations | | | | "One person's inefficiency is another person's income. |
| or other disturbances. | | | | |