Early Intervention in Schizophrenia; What You and Your Family Should Know!
Common questions that families and patients have when early signs of psychosis or schizophrenia emerge are discussed. Diagnosis may be uncertain in the pre-illness prodromal stage of schizophrenia but clear-cut symptoms of hallucinations and delusions lasting 6 to 24 months are a diagnostic indication of First-Episode Schizophrenia (FES). We have highlighted a Mom’s plight with a son showing early stage psychotic symptoms and the sons’ plight as psychotic symptoms start to emerge. Our focus is on a Mom’s experience with a son because this is the typical presentation as Mom’s are usually the first to reach out and more males are afflicted with schizophrenia than are females. We have attempted to dispel myths about schizophrenia by looking at What You Need to Know.
Part 1: Mom asks, “Where do I go when my son starts having psychotic symptoms?”
Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular (nutritional correcting therapy) early treatment centers do not currently exist for schizophrenia; orthomolecular treatment can is provided by orthomolecular practitioners and a research-based clinic dedicated to mental health treatment is one of your best choices.
The Naturopathic Medical Research Clinic (NMRC) is one of these clinics that offers a targeted treatment therapy based on a research approach tailored specifically to those people suffering with FES or prodromal schizophrenia. At the NMRC we educate families and patients on the symptoms of schizophrenia and we emphasize the importance of starting early with advanced vitamin B3 nutrient therapy. Early intervention is important because it maximizes the likelihood of achieving a longstanding positive response. In general there are no side effect risks with nutrient-based therapy.
Conventional Psychiatry
In FES, treatment usually begins at an early treatment center where the intent is to educate patients on symptom stages and severity and provide a neuroleptic medication. Common neuroleptics include olanzapine (Zyprexia), aripiprazole (Abilify), resperidone (Resperdal), and quitiapine (Seroquel).
What You Need to Know:
Point 1 – Ask your GP or psychiatrist about the viability of neuroleptic medication as would and educated consumer.
Point 2 – There is absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing orthomolecular therapy under the care of a dedicated clinic. The NMRC advanced treatment protocol addresses the nutritional imbalances associated with schizophrenia, attempts to neutralized endogenous hallucinogen formation, and aims to keep brain tissue structure from progressing into a further state of degeneration.