This link to an article on professionals labeled with schizophrenia does not fully relate my position on medications. I have essentially the same view as Lauren Mosher, MD , Jaakko Seikkula, PhD. and many others. Neuroleptics are needed in small amounts and only for a few people and for some only usually for a time. A few people need them longer than others and occasionally for life.
The research evidence from longitudinal studies shows half of those in recovery from schizophrenia not on life time neuroleptics.
see What is Actual Schizophrenia Recovery Rate
Many more people recovery than is every publicized. Clinicians generally see people at their worst and when people labeled with schizophrenia begin to do better they generally leave the system. And due to stereotyping and prejudice (called stigma) they do not generally publically speak.
Thus what researchers call “the clinicians illusion” arrises.
The vicious stereotyping in the media of people labeled with schizophrenia inspite of ALL legitimate research showing that those labeled with “mental illness” are no more dangerous average forces people not to speak. Dangerousness is increased by alcohol and drugs, not “mental illness” and not schizophrenia. Alcohol use by anyone is the strongest predictor of dangerousness. However groups seeking to change policy pursue agendas of media smearing purely for political purposes.
Any group can be labeled and stereotyped in the media like this. This same thing was done to Viet Nam vets during and after that unpopular war.
The media played up the few incidents of violence and very unfairly labeled them. In American history African American men were labeled as rapists by blasting every incident unfairly across all the media.
Fred Freze the principle author along with me (Ed Knight, PhD, CPRP) and Ellyn Sachs wrote the following article to demonstrate the number of us who recover and have professional degrees who are labeled with schizophrenia. Fred has gone on now to collect many more who have both the schizophrenia label and an MD, PhD, or law degree as Ellyn.
Recovered Professionals Labeled with Schizophrenia
Buddhist Meditation and Schizophrenia
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Will Hall, psychotherapist from Portland Oregon(website WillHall.net):
Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs
Schizophrenia is NOT hopeless!!!
Read some on Kindle. The best buy to me is the $189 because it includes free 3g and is available in most places like your home if you can’t afford a monthly expense. You also get wifi capability and can access it free at places like McDonald’s. This gives you internet access cheaper than a computer.
The $139 model of Kindle gives you access to internet where wifi is free like McDonald’s and is less than a computer.
Kim Hopper PhD. A research study covering 18 countries. Showing 40% of people with schizophrenia work for pay across these countries and 20% with moderate to severe disability work for pay. Another %20 do meaningful household work as measured by scientific standards. This means that a meaningful contribution was made and would on the open market be paid for. So the total doing work is 60% with schizophrenia. Certainly a different picture than the media labeling and stereotyping.
Ralph and Corrigan reach the same conclusion that the actual recovery rate is 90% using a different method which gives further verification.
On the unnecessary and costly tragedy of “hospitalization”.
Transforming mental health systems to recovery.
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