PakMediNet Discussion Forum : Psychiatry / Psychology : Medicines For Mental Illnesses - Comments
Medicines For Mental Illnesses - Comments
Note : The article below is about the hidden hazardous side effects of modern medications meant for the treatment of mental illnesses.
In fact most of the depression-related medications, especially the antipsychotics (such as Risperdal etc) meant for the treatment of such mental illnesses as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder etc would tend to carry such hidden and potentially hazardous and disastrous side effects (especially the ones manifesting in the forms of various uncontrollable, involuntary and purposeless movements / muscle twitching disorders on the parts of the eyes, face, arms, legs etc) as Extrapyramidal Symptoms , Tardive Dyskinesia , Dystonia, Akathisia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome and in some serious cases, the neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinsonism etc.
Next, no matter how sophisticated the modern drugs are being invented and developed, especially the second-generation antipsychotics, such a potential side effect remains inherent in such medications that carry the side effects of antagonizing the dopamine receptors (one of the main neurotransmitters / the key elements of neurons / nerve cells in our nervous system essential for the control of human body motions) . Even though the possibility of manifestation of such neuromuscular symptoms may be very small or even negligible as proven by the established scientific research, other experimental and clinical verifications, it would still depend on such other factors as the different physical conditions of the users of such drugs, other unexpected possible allergy cases etc.
All in all, it would be the amount of medical attention and professional care of the medical personnel dealing with the specific cases of their patients and dispensing the drugs with such dopamine-disturbing side effects that would be primarily essential to ensure the non-occurrence of such disorders or minimize the risk of getting such disastrous and undesired neuromuscular side effects.
In regard of the topic elaborated above, well, based on my real life observations so far, usually the paper catalogues, pamphlets and brochures for such medications would tend to include the information about their side effects in the forms of fine prints and some very small-size characters in that many users would most of the time tend to ignore them or simply take them as some medical jargons that are otherwise meaningless to them.
But in reality, it's always important to at least get an understanding about the medications that one takes so as to take precautions against any unwanted disastrous side effects from them. Lastly, I hope that the information given above will be useful to the intended readers. Thank you.
Further Reference :
Tardive Dyskinesia : -
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/tardive_dyskinesia.jsp
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 28-02-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Depression-related Medications - My Personal Opinions
In addition, my opinion for such depression-related medications is such that in the case of depression sickness itself which would only cause a person to have a lower self-esteem, lose interest in mixing with other people and to a certain extent make one feel reluctant to go to work sometimes, it certainly will not worth one's while to soley depend on such drugs to relieve such a mental disorder at the expense of getting all the disastrous irreversible physically incapacitating side effects from such drugs eventually.
Hence, my point of view is that extreme cautions should be exercised when one has got no choice but to take such drugs to deal with their mental disorders.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 28-02-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Related Reference For The Antipsychotic - Risperdal
Please be informed that such depression-related medication as Risperdal is actually meant in reality for prescription purposes by the related medical personnel / specialists to be taken by any of its current and prospective users temporarily for a period of 6 months and below (after which it should be replaced with something else).
Such a measure is intended as a safety precaution to safeguard its users from any of its unwanted disastrous physically incapacitating side effects that will almost in all cases manifest onto the ones taking such medication over the long-term. In connection, it's actually at the same time, a strictly-adhered medical practice / protocol for the medical professions of U.S, European and other western countries.
Related Reference :
Risperdal :
http://www.drugs.com/risperdal.html
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 28-02-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Antipsychotics / Neuroleptics For Mental Disorders - Comments
In terms of antipsychotics / neuroleptics meant for the treatments of mental disorders , clinical evidences actually indicate that those troubled with mental disorders, especially the serious ones, shouldn't just rely solely upon the medications as the one and only means of solution to their mental problems.
To put it bluntly, such medications, they are no different from sleeping pills whereby their calming effects just 'come and go' after the lapse of their effective period whilst their potential disastrous side effects can be permanent upon manifestations. In medical sense, such mental disorders, especially the serious ones is mainly caused by the malfunctionings of the mood regulator neurotransmitter, especially Serotonin in the brain. Next, though the related medications can to a certain extent bring such a severe mental disorder under control by 'artificially' regulating, blocking and controlling the re-uptake of it in the brain of the persons suffering from it, medications alone however, by no means would be able to deal conclusively with the problems due to the fact that the root causes of such a disorder is actually resulting largely from the environmental, circumstantial and other interpersonal factors (or the changes of them) that are deemed to be emotionally and adversely unacceptable to the ones suffering from it to a very great extent. Such negative changes in turn actually account for the negative behavioural changes in them as described
In short, it remains the truth that most of the antipsychotics / neuroleptics meant for especially the treatment of chronic mental illnesses would tend to work in such a way that they would need to change / alter the chemical balances in the brain of those taking such medications in the process of bringing such disorders under control. In the process of doing so, such a mechanism would unavoidably and eventually antagonize the neurotransmitters of the nervous system, especially the serotonin and dopamine (which is necessary for various neuromuscular functions), and hence disturb and interfere with the normal functionings of the nerves of the human body.
Next, though it may take years for such undesirable side effects / scenario to manifest onto the ones taking such medications, I am just in the opinion that in the case of the medications having potentially such unwanted side effects, it would naturally be the duty of the medical personnel / specialists-in-charge to take all the precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of the patients for the sake of their healthcare and welfare.
The real-life examples that I have come across so far is such that for the ones relying merely upon medications and nothing else to deal with their mental disorders, they would tend to develop both emotional and psychological dependences upon such medictions over the long-term whilst getting their mental conditions deteriorated from time to time, eg, from neurosis to psychosis and then just acquire all those almost irreversibly disastrous undesirable side effects like Extrapyramidal Symptoms, Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia, Akathisia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Parkinsonism disorders etc from such medications in the end.
In such a connection, psychotherapy, counselling, emotional and other communication / interactive supports would be needed to complement the use of the related medications to achieve greater curative effects for such patients troubled by chronic mental disorder.
As such, medications is one thing, but the mental / cognitive abilities of the patients themselves to eventually change their views and perceptions about their environments / surroundings, circumstances and people they are facing in a more positve way, particularly developed through the help of such counselling supports from the others in order for them to really get better and gradually develop positive behavioural / personality changes, is simply another thing that cannot achieved solely with the help of medications alone.
In a nutshell, medications alone by no means can be a substitute for the positive interpersonal experiences that such patients would eventually need for genuine improvement and recovery of their sanity and the use of them should at the same time be complemented by other psychotherapy efforts to achieve the purpose of holistic healing.
Lastly, I hope that the information given above will turn out to be useful to its intended readers. Thank you.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 28-02-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Statistics of Recovery Cases For Mental Illnesses
In fact, statistical evidences actually show that among the ones getting mental illnesses, especially the serious one like Schizophrenia, generally one-third of the population of such people would eventually manage to achieve full recovery, another one-third would gain significant improvements while getting occasional relapses of such disorders, whilst the remaining rest would just get their disorders worsened day after day until no recovery is conceivably possible.
In this regard, I could tell you very frankly that the former 2/3 of the population of the ones suffering from serious mental illnesses, especially the serious one like Schizophrenia (who have either achieved full recoveries or substantial improvements), are actually the ones who have successfully overcome their own inner senses of anxieties, fears, panics, phobias and eliminated all the delusional thoughts and hallucinations all eventually by themselves, having received all the necessary external medicational and interpersonal psychotherapy helps from the others.
Lastly, what I am trying to say is that as long as there're hopes in getting improvements for one's mental disorders, one should put in the necessary efforts and work hard towards that goal of gaining more and more sanities and finally full recoveries if possible.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 28-02-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
General Cognitive Behavioural Process
Well, a psychologist has actually explained to me before that any human actions / behaviours are generally dictated by a cognitive mental process summarized such as follows, and it would apply as well to the ones suffering from any mental disorders, but nevertheless are still mentally and cognitively well-aware of their surroundings and other objects / factors around them. Next, I find that such reasonings really make great senses, and hence, I just feel like to share it with the intended readers :-
Perceptions (anything we see, we hear, we know, we taste, we touch etc from our surroundings / other people) => Feelings (the way we feel about our surroundings and other people based on anything we see, hear, know, taste, touch etc) => Thoughts (the types of views and opinions that we form in our minds based on the types of feelings we have for anything we perceive) => Actions (how we choose to react in response to those surroundings / other people based on the feelings and thoughts that arise in our minds).
In such a regard, the underlying problem faced by the ones with schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and other mental disorders are such that they would tend to treat their perceptions (as mentioned above) in a very much negatively different way, and that in turn results in them forming all those negative feelings, thoughts and then all those negative actions of which others get to label them as negative behavioural / personality changes.
For example, a person suffering from schizophrenia may, after 'observing' his surroundings, (Perceptions), just in turn, for certain reasons like past traumatic experiences, anxiety disorders, panic attacks etc, would tend to spontaneously and directly feel very much uncomfortable, anxious, scared and fearful for what they get to see, hear, know, touch etc (Feelings) , and in extreme cases, maybe they may get to hear 'voices' and feel very much threatened by their surroundings then have such false and unreal imaginations of which they subconsciously choose to firmly believe in that someone out there is 'really' / 'actually' threatening his life (Thoughts or in this case, purely false hallucinations), and finally just try his very best based on his own misguided judgements, to subconsciously become violently defensive and hostile against the others in order to save himself, from being killed etc (Actions).
Similarly, such an explanation to a certain extent would apply as well to the ones having such disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Claustrophobia (a morbid fear of being closed in a confined space) etc whereby a given surrounding, which may appear normal to other people, would nevertheless and otherwise appear to be abnormally unacceptable to them possibly because of past traumatic experiences, anxiety disorders, panic attacks and other reasons. Next, the feelings and thoughts that such people would have based what they perceive for the given surrounding in turn would be largely uncontrollable, if not subconciously involuntary, while their subsequent responses/ reactions / actions based on their such negative feelings and thoughts, would in turn be very much the so-called reflex reactions which are substantially and in most cases, totally beyond their self-control.
In this regard, it would be very much helpful for the ones dealing with such persons to understand their basic underlying problems and difficulties and in turn treat them considerately and thoughtfully with care, respects and most importantly, compassion, whilst at the same time, also try to be friendly and amicable to them in such as a way that rather than feeling uncomfortable with a given surrounding and becoming agitated, these persons would on the other hand, feel more mind-easing, emotionally calm, placated, pacified, soothed, comfortable and relaxing with that given 'uneasy' / 'uncomfortable' / 'threatening' surroundings that they perceive. Subsequently, all these efforts will definitely be tremendously conducive to the improvements of the conditions of their disorders and possibly the final recovery in the end.
With all due respect, the antipsychotics and other neuroleptics just serve to temporarily block such negative nerve impulses about their such negative perceptions from getting sent to the brain of the ones having such disorders so as to artificially block all those negative feelings, thoughts, and then the actions. Hence, they are simply not a conclusive and permanent solution to such disorders.
Well, in such a context, the most direct way of treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the most effective, and maybe largely hypothetical way would be for such persons to totally change their perceptions about their surroundings, environments, the other people in a positive way and to start having positive and realistic thoughts and at the same time, to get rid of those hallucinations, fanciful ideas, little by little gradually and slowly out of their mind and replace them with anything normal, practical, realistic and positive. Theorectically, positive perceptions => positive feelings =>positive thoughts => positive actions.
In this sense, a great deal of interpersonal, interactive, communications and emotional supports from the ones genuinely willing to help them would be very much essential in getting this achieved, essentially in changing the ways they perceive, feel and think for anything they deal with so as to enable them to come to a decision on their own to have positive actions.
Nonetheless, above all these external constructive helps from the others, all the self-initiatives, self-controls and self-disciplines that are meant to be exercised, essentially on the parts of the ones suffering from such a disorder, particularly to 'mentally-train' themselves to think realistically, positively, optimistically and to cast out / expel all those weird thoughts, hallucinations, fanciful imaginations and preposterous urges and whims little by little out of their minds and get them replaced with the positive, practical and realistic ones, so as to slowly develop positive behavioural changes in themselves, would in turn actually be the decisive factor in determining whether their conditions will pracitcally improve or not, slowly and gradually in the end.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 28-02-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Further References (Please Look For Posts Made By ntuc) :
http://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3039
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 04-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
As a summary,
I'm suggesting the following as a solution to mental disorders :
1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life
These are actually the advices I have obtained from many neurologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists as well as the very conclusions I have experienced myself.
Lastly, I hope that the information given will be relevant and useful to the intended readers. Thank you.
[Edited by cmike1980 on 08-03-2009 at 11:56 AM GMT]
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 04-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Dear sir/madam,
Can you please point to the evidence supporting this rule of 1/3rd?
With evidence I mean a randomized controlled trial, not opinions of Mr./Ms. XYZ.
Posted by: rqayyumPosts: 199 :: 12-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
First of all, thanks for your reply
As to the rate of recoveries of the Schizophrenia disorder as mentioned in the previous post, that's actually an information excerpted from Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Whilst in regard to the follows as mentioned in my previous post :
1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life,
well, since different pathological / medical conditions of the different people having mental disorders actually vary from one person to another and given the facts that such other factors as self-wills / self-determinations and the external interpersonal moral supports & strengths from the others may differ as well from one case to the other (depending on such subjective factors like how 'determined' a person is, how skillful the psychotherapists are, to what extent the mentally-illed people are monitored for their healing progresses etc), one can in fact, hardly assign any 'right' amount of contents for each of those 3 factors / variables / efforts needed for the treatment of mental disorders.
This is to say, since the medical conditions would reasonably vary from one person / case to another, whilst it wouldn't be reasonable too for anyone to assign any numerical proportions to any of those 3 'variables, the '1/3' proportion for each of those 3 factors is just something that I can come up with objectively so far.
Next, I must admit that it's quite arbitrary for me to do so in the first place. However, given the fact that there are more and more people nowadays, especially the ones having the mental disorders who would tend to rely heavlily, and if not completely, but at the same time, rather ignorantly upon medications as their sole and only means of dealing with their mental disorders, hence, by assigning the numerical proportion of '1/3' to each of those 3 variables for that 'equation' I'm just trying to convey a message to the intended readers that such factors as external psychotherapies, interactive / interpersonal, emotional / moral supports from the others as well as self-controls / self-efforts to think positively, they are just fairly as important as the medications when it comes to dealing with mental disorders.
By the way, that's certainly still open to questions given the different scenarios of each persons having the mental disorders. And I'm just trying to give a rough idea of suggesting the possible treatments for mental disorders.
In short, the helps and assistances from the medical experts and personnel in the real life for these people having the mental disorders of different scenarios (conditions / severities etc) would still be very much needed. Whilst on my part, I am just trying to share with the intended readers what I have learned and experienced both through my studies and real-life practices of the relevant professions.
[Edited by cmike1980 on 16-03-2009 at 03:02 PM GMT]
[Edited by cmike1980 on 17-03-2009 at 05:59 AM GMT]
[Edited by cmike1980 on 17-03-2009 at 06:00 AM GMT]
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 16-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Hallucinations / Delusions, symptoms of Schizophrenia - Brief Analysis
In fact, for the symptoms of hallucinations / delusions etc that might come along with certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder etc, well, I was actually informed by the psychiatrists and psychologists that all these hallucinations / delusions etc, 'they' are actually 'fed' on such negative feelings as fear, anger, frustrations, suspicions and all other fanciful, illogical, irrational, erratic and unreasonable senses of those suffering from such hallucinational disorders.
This is to say, the more and more, and the frequent and frequent that such people having hallucinations / delusions are to entertain / indulge / revel / be engrossed in such negative feelings of fear, anger, frustrations, suspicions and all other fanciful, illogical, irrational, erratic and unreasonable senses, and the stronger and stronger of those senses that such people suffering from schizophrenia / bipolar disorder tend to have, then the worse and worse their delusional and hallucinational conditions would tend to become / deteriorate over time.
Similarly, the same concepts and principles would fairly apply to certain mental diorders like depressions, anxieties, phobias, panic attacks etc whereby the more and more depressed, anxious, distressed, worried, dejected, panicked, desperate, emotionally impulsive, fearful (of certain things, surroundings, situations, people etc) a particular mentally-illed person can get, the more and more serious that such mental disorders would potentially deteriorate over the long-term.
So, one would really need to learn how to control oneself so as not to let their such negative senses running out of control.
In short, in dealing with such problems, just don't 'give' all these hallucinations / delusions etc what 'they' want (in these cases, that will be those negative unrealistic / irrational / wildly fanciful senses etc as described above) so as to prevent the symptoms from deteriorating from bad to worse. Whilst the same approaches would be effective for the other mental disorders too, such as the ones mentioned above.
So, the ways of overcoming these hallucinations / delusions, other mental disorders etc, on one point, would be to use certain related medications to temporarily bring such a condition under control (temporarily in the sense that medications have their limitations especially in terms of their effective curative period, whilst at the same time, such a 'temporary healing' is actually achieved through the artificial suppressing of negative nerve impulses to block all such negative feelings, thoughts - in this case, mainly the hallucinations, and finally the actions which arise from negative perceptions).
On the other hand, one's self-initiatives and self-efforts to exercise self-controls, self-disciplines, self-rationalisings, self-reasonings etc to overcome all those delusions and hallucinations would be of utmost essential in helping oneself to cope with such mental disorders.
This is to say, in order to overcome all those delusions, hallucinations etc, one would need to exercise all those self-initiatives, self-controls etc to exercise self-reasonings and self-rationalisings, so as to enable oneself to gradually and slowly think positively, rationally, realistically, reasonably, practically and sensibly, as well as, at the same time, to replace all those delusional, hallucinational thoughts, wild imaginations etc, bit by bit, with rational and reasonable thoughts and senses, just like the what the normal healthy people do.
In the meantime, one would reasonably require certain psychotherapy, emotional, interactive, interpersonal and communication supports in getting such goals achieved. In this regard, such other activities as doing sports, playing indoor games (such as chess, card games etc), engagings in one's favourite hobbies, watching comedies, reading something interesting, positively inspiring etc, would all be useful in both distracting one's mind from having delusions, hallucinations etc, whilst at the same time, subconsciously instilling into their minds all those optimistic and positive thoughts that one would need to deal with such disorders.
In short, having hallucinations, which to a certain extent might be associated with certain mental disorders, as well as the mental disorders themselves, well, they may be painful experiences to most people, however, it would take just the right treatments and other related remedial factors to achieve holistic healings for such disorders of hallucinations / delusions, other mental disorders etc.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 16-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Haven't seen any evidence yet... still waiting............
Posted by: rqayyumPosts: 199 :: 25-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Thanks for your reply again.
'Haven't seen any evidence yet... still waiting............'
Well, when you have mentioned evidence, may I know what are the things (which parts of the related paragraph in the related post) that you are referring to ?
Actually, in terms of mental disorders which may come along with hallucinations / delusions, all those external aides of medications, psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal and emotional supports etc, they are all meant for the same ultimate goal of bringing such disorders under control and there is simply no doubt for that.
Next, since it's the ones having mental disorders are who are actually suffering from such illnesses, which arise from negative perceptions, negative feelings and negative thoughts formed in their own brains / minds (instead of other people's brains / minds), it would eventually necessitate they themselves to put in their very own self- efforts, having received both external medicational and interpersonal helps from the others, to exercise self-controls and self-disciplines on their own to direct their own brains for self-reasonings, self-introspections and self-rationalisings.
This is to say, for the self-cognition / thinkings psychological part of the ones having mental diorders to form those positive feelings and positive thoughts in their own minds on their very own, and then to naturally develop postitive behavioural / personality changes, such a cognitive thought / thinking process actually can hardly be 'dictated' by anyone else other than they themselves. In such connection, as to the cognitive / thinking abilities / processes of different individuals, one of the simplest examples will be the process of learning a knowledge or something else whereby a person can get the best text materials, teachers, lecturers, tutors etc to assist one in his / her learnings, however, it would still ultimately depend on the very cognitive ability / process pertaining to that particular person which is then the key decisive factor in determining whether the knowledge is successfully acquired in the end or not.
In short, those self-efforts (related to self-cognitions), in the very end, will eventually be very much essential, or rather the decisive factor in determining whether the persons having mental disorders will achieve improvements / recoveries for their mental conditions or not.
[Edited by cmike1980 on 26-03-2009 at 04:29 AM GMT]
[Edited by cmike1980 on 26-03-2009 at 04:32 AM GMT]
[Edited by cmike1980 on 26-03-2009 at 04:32 AM GMT]
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 26-03-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Mental Disorders / Mental Illnesses - Its Two General Categories : Neurosis & Psychosis - Brief Explanations
Generally, mental disorders / mental illnesses can be summarized into the two broad categories of neurosis and psychosis as explained below : -
- In the case of mental disorders / mental illnesses which mildly disturb the normal functionings of one's cognitive / thinking abilities, functions and processes (of the brains), this would give rise to behavioural problems (that affects only part of the personality), which are quite uncontrollable and involuntary. Next, such scenarios are generally labelled as neurosis. Its common examples would be depression, panic, anxiety, insecurity, irrational fears, obsessive- compulsive Disorders (OCD), hypochondria / neurasthenia etc. In this regard, such antidepressants like Prozac etc are actually meant for such mental disorders / mental illnesses. As such, please refer to the website below for further details :
http://www.answers.com/topic/neurosis
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/prozac.html
- In the very much serious cases of mental disorders / mental illnesses whereby one's cognitive / thinking abilities, functions and processes (of the brains) are severely disturbed and impaired, this would then cause the much more serious personality disorders which may involve such mentally dissociative states of delusions, hallucinations and in the worst case scenario, insanities. The most common examples would be scizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoia etc - which are generally labelled as psychosis . In such a connection, such powerful tranquilizers as the antipsychotics / neuroleptics etc will usually be needed to deal with such much more serious mental disorders / mental illnesses. As such, please refer to the website below for further details :
http://www.answers.com/topic/psychosis
http://www.answers.com/topic/antipsychotic-1
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 01-04-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Additional Information About Modern And Outdated Medications For Mental Disorders
Besides, I would like to add that as far as the harmful and nearly unavoidable muscle spasms (involuntary restless bodily / muscular movements such as rapid purposeless uncontrollable eye-blinking / eyelid-twitching, Hemifacial Spasms, Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia etc) and other neurological disorders arising from the harmful neuromuscular / neurological / neuro-degenerative side effects of certain medications are concerned, there have been in fact a great variety of other far better medications with greater curative effects and far lesser harmful side effects getting invented from time to time nowadays by the modern medical science in order to overcome this problem.
Nevertheless, the usual current practice of most medical practitioners nowadays are such that they would prefer to prescribe and dispense the inferior and outdated medications to their patients owing to the far lower costs of these medications, and hence the health cares of the patients are getting unfairly exploited and jeopardized in such a scenario.
For an instance, the medication called chlorpromazine is actually one of the examples of the longly outdated first-generation antipsychotic medications that has long been superseded by the other far better second and third-generation antipsychotics ever since decades ago. However, such inferior and outdated medications are still the commonly preferred choices for prescriptions and dispensing of most medical practitioners nowadays.
Examples of First-generation antipsychotics for treating schizophrenia :
http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/first-generation-antipsychotics-for-treating-schizophrenia
In such a connection, please refer to the website as follows for some overviews of all these first, second and third-generation antipsychotics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotics
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 21-12-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Mental Disorders : Brief Analysis and Summary
Actually, one thing to take note here is that the chemical imbalance in the brain (especially mood-regulator, Serotonin) leading to the mental disorder is actually caused by disturbances to one's mood in the very first place that might arise as a result of various emotionally unpleasant / unacceptable factors, scenarios, events, persons, surroundings, etc that are considered upsetting, distressing and even traumatic to certain people (resulting thus in disturbances to the normal functionings of neurotransmitter chemical, Serotonin and then such chemical imbalance in the brain). All in all, the question as to whether a person facing or confronting with such emotionally unpleasant / unacceptable factors, scenarios, events, persons, surroundings, etc will eventually suffer from mental disorder or not, that would largely and mostly depend on how good or how bad one is able to tolerate, put up and adapt oneself to all such emotionally unpleasant / unacceptable adversities without getting emotionally disturbed in the end.
Next, for drugs such as anti-depressants and anti-anxieties (for neurosis - less serious mental disorder) and antipsychotics / neuroleptics (for psychosis- more serious mental disorder characterized by serious hallucinations, and in fact, the powerful mind-altering agents), they are in fact a simplified way of chemical solution to various mental disorders.
In such a connection, their chemical mechanism is such that they would serve to artificially block the negative nerve impulses (negative thoughts, feelings, emotions etc) from getting sent to the brain, and thus temporarily stop a person from getting upset, distressed, depressed etc throughout the effective period of the each drug dosage (that may last for mere hours). In the process of doing so and given the fact that the entire mechanism is purely artificial by drug interception rather than natural, the synaptic activities of the neurons and the neurotrasmitters chemicals especially Serotonin and Dopamine (the neurotransmitter chemical responsible for human bodily movements) etc of the nervous systems would unavoidably be interferred and antagonized in the end.
Subsequently, such a phenomenon would then eventually lead to certain neurological / neuromuscular and in the worst case scenario, the neuro-degenerative symptoms getting developed as the side effects of these drugs for mental disorders. And hence, modern medical science actually tries to overcome such these problems by inventing the more and more advanced versions of the newer and better drugs with ever-decreasing harmful side effects from time to time for the sake of the health cares and well-beings of the ones using them.
At the same time, another thing to take note as well is such that since the human bodies would gradually develop tolerances for any medications, including the ones for mental disorders, and especially the ones that are fed to them repeatedly over the long-term, such medications for mental disorders would hence become addictive themselves whereby larger and larger dosages would gradually be required from time to time to achieve the similar therapeutical effects, and then eventually, they would lose their intended artificial curative effects particularly when they are over-relied upon to the point of sheer abuse whilst no other non-medicational efforts are taken to deal with such mental disorders.
As such, given the ultimately inevitable risks of side effects of such drugs, my opinions are such that the more practical and realistic solution to mental disorders is such that whilst taking the related drugs to curb and bring down the uncontrollable symptoms of mental disorders, such as feelings of deep depressions, deep hallucinations, violent emotional outbursts etc, as well as making the necessary efforts to benefit oneself to the best possible extent from the newer and better drugs with ever-decreasing harmful neurological side effects for such mental disorders which are invented from time to time by the modern medical science, such medications should be used wisely with all the precautionary measures. Whilst at the same time, other non-medicational efforts of emotional and communication supports from the others etc to cheer and brighten up one's mood and spirit as well as the related self-control efforts (to control one's mood and tempers) should thus also be taken at the same time to deal with such mental disorders more effectively towards the goals of gradual improvements as well as final and full recoveries.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 21-12-2009 :: | Reply to this Message
Mental Disorders / Cognitive Behavioural Process - Perceptions => Feelings => Thoughts => Behavioural / Personality Changes / Reactions / Actions / Responses
Actually, given the underlying fact that mental disorders are actually something that arise from such psychological and cognitive factors of how one perceives one's surroundings etc, the feelings they have in response to those perceptions, then the various thoughts they form in their minds based on such perceptions and feelings for anything they perceive, and finally, how they choose to react to such perceptions, feelings and thoughts, they are thus very much different from the other physiological / bodily / metabolism-related somatic diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, kidney failures etc.
In short, mental illnesses which are defined by one's behavioural / personality changes, appropriateness of their behaviours, personalities, actions, reactions, responses as perceived and judged by the others, who in turn would label them as a variety of related mental disorder symptoms, they are actually caused by the various negative, abnormal, preposterous thoughts and various urges which are formed in one's mind in response to what they see, sense and feel about their surroundings etc.
As such, in addition to the medicational efforts put in to bring the hardly controllable symptoms of mental disorders such as deep feelings of depressions, nervous breakdown, violent emotional outbursts etc effectively under control temporarily throughout the effective period of each dosage of the medications, such non-medicational efforts of psychotherapy, seeking emotional and psychological comforts as well as interactive, interpersonal, communication supports from the ones close to such people would also be quite indispensable in dealing with various mental disorders.
Apart from that, given that negative behavioural changes caused by mental disorders are actually caused by such negative feelings and negative thoughts formed by negative sensory perceptions of anything around one's surroundings, one should thus try to control oneself when coming across and dealing with all those scenarios so as to try one's best not to have too strong emotional attachment / feelings for all those negative surroundings etc as well as try not to over-react to them. In short, one should apply one's reasonable senses and judgements and rationalities when dealing with anything unpleasant to them.
Theorectically, since one's reactions / responses / behaviourial changes actually arise from one's thoughts, such negative / socially undesirable and unacceptable reactions / responses / behavioural changes would thus not occur at all if one could choose to ignore all those unpleasant phenomena totally so as not to form any negative thoughts in their minds at all, and then, one's mind would stay completely calm, placid, totally undisturbed and not influenced at all by anything distasteful and unpleasant happening to / around them. In short, when no negative thoughts are formed, then no negative actions / reactions / responses would be initiated at all. However, that would sound to be easier said than done and a great deal of patience and perseverance would surely be necessary to achieve that.
As a summary,
I'm suggesting the following as a solution to mental disorders :
1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life
These are actually the advices I have obtained from many neurologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists as well as the very conclusions I have experienced myself.
Next, I must admit that it's quite arbitrary for me to do so in the first place. However, given the fact that there are more and more people nowadays, especially the ones having the mental disorders who would tend to rely heavlily, and if not completely, but at the same time, rather ignorantly upon medications as their sole and only means of dealing with their mental disorders, hence, by assigning the numerical proportion of '1/3' to each of those 3 variables for that 'equation' I'm just trying to convey a message to the intended readers that such factors as external psychotherapies, interactive / interpersonal, emotional / moral supports from the others as well as self-controls / self-efforts to think positively, they are just fairly as important as the medications when it comes to dealing with mental disorders.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 31-05-2010 :: | Reply to this Message
Why Non-medicational Interpersonal Or (And) Impersonal Emotional Comforts, Reliefs, Supports etc Are So Essential As A Part of The Holistic Approach For Mental Disorders ?
Well, I have suggested in my previous posts about the following as the holistic approach for mental disorders :
1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life ;
As such, I would like to emphasize once again that the non-medicational emotional comforts, reliefs, supports etc either in interpersonal or impersonal forms (and a combination of both depending on different mental conditions of different mentally-ill people), are in fact, very essential and indispensable in enabling the ones troubled with mental disorders to make real, genuine, long-lasting and sustainable improvements for their mental conditions towards the path of full recoveries in the end.
Well, based on what I have learnt so far from the psychologists is that, everyone of us naturally are born with the innate urges to get upset, angry and even mad especially when we face certain surroundings, incidences, people that are considered unpleasant to us.
Next, in terms of normal people who are not troubled by any mental illnesses, they normally have the mental abilities derived from their sensible minds and sanities to at least try to resist and overcome such urges to get upset, angry, mad etc whenever they feel like doing so by trying on their very own to calm themselves down.
Whilst in terms of the ones troubled with mental disorders, well, given that their mind powers are weaker, they thus have lesser abilities to do so, and hence would tend to more easily get upset, angry, mad etc at things that are considered to be unpleasant to them.
As a matter of fact, in terms of psychological reasoning, the mental abilities of the normal healthy mentally-sound people to at least try to resist such urges to get upset, angry, mad etc, such as what I have mentioned above, well, such mental abilities actually come from the "calming forces" nurtured, developed and accumulated into their respective minds on an ongoing way, normally and spontaneously without even them noticing it, through such events, incidences, activities, surroundings, people etc in their everyday life that would naturally make them feel happy, joyous, serene etc.
Whilst for the ones troubled with mental disorders, since they do not have enough / are very much lacking in such "calming forces" in their conscious / subconscious minds, they thus face certain difficulties in trying to control their moods and mental conditions in the effective ways like the normal healthy people who are mentally sound.
For example, given a distressing incidence, different people would tend to react differently to it. Whilst the persons who are mentally sound could just at least try their best not to get upset too easily by such an unpleasant incidence, the ones troubled with mental diorders such as depression etc, may just turn out to be emotionally weaker and could not resist the urges to get depressed etc. In short, there are just not enough "calming forces" in their own minds to enable them to resist such urges to do so.
As such, non-medicational emotional comforts and reliefs are thus very important and essential in nurturing, developing and accumulating such "calming forces" in the minds of the ones troubled with mental disorders in such a way that when they have gathered enough and sufficient "calming forces" in their own minds, they would then be able to consciously stabilize their mental conditions and exercise certain self-controls on their own so as to at least try to resist the urges and refrain themselves to get upset, angry, mad at others etc especially when facing certain unpleasant incidences.
Besides, in terms of general cognitive behavioural process of Perceptions (anything we see, we hear, we know, we taste, we touch etc from our surroundings / other people) => Feelings (the way we feel about our surroundings and other people based on anything we see, hear, know, taste, touch etc) => Thoughts (the types of views and opinions that we form in our minds based on the types of feelings we have for anything we perceive) => Actions (how we choose to react in response to those surroundings / other people based on the feelings and thoughts that arise in our minds),
psychologically, the entire process can actually be explained in such a way that when the particular surroundings, environments, people's behaviours / attitudes etc (Perceptions) just through some effectively positive means / efforts of non-medicational emotional comforts / reliefs etc, appear to be pleasant, peaceful and friendly to certain people troubled with mental disorders, they would thus get to become calmer and calmer in a natural way in the long-run especially when they are continually exposed to such pleasant surroundings, environments, people's friendly behaviours / attitudes etc on a permanently ongoing basis (Feelings), and when such "calming forces" are accumulated sufficiently in their very own minds, this would then enable them to at least try to resist any thoughts / urges to feel upset, angry, mad etc at certain incidences, especially the ones that they have never expected and that are considered unpleasant to them (Thoughts). Finally and ideally, such an ongoing scenario would thus result in gradually step by step improvements in their mental conditions especially in terms of positive behavioural changes for the better and better conditions (Actions).
Similarly, the same explanations would apply as well to other scenarios that anyone, including the ones who are mentally-sound, face in their everyday life.
For instance, when the mentally-sound healthy persons are exposed, especially unwillingly to certain hostile, harsh and unfriendly surroundings / environments / people (Perceptions) for a certain long period of time, and no matter how tolerant they may initially get to be, they may just lose their patience at one particular point of time in that they might couldn't help themselves but to feel annoyed, angry, upset, mad etc in the end (Feelings). Next, the accumulated calming forces they possess would then start depleting gradually initially, and then substantially as times go by, in that they may just start forming negative thoughts about the hostile, harsh and unfriendly surroundings / environments / people they face in their everyday life, even without them noticing such a change in the negative ways they think (Thoughts). In the end, such thoughts may just give rise to certain negative behavioural changes in them by becoming enervative / dejected, acting angrily, furiously etc (Actions).
And, let me just give you all one example, and please bear in mind that it is just for references purpose only. Well, I have dealt with a patient having such a symptom that he couldn't help himself at all but simply has the irresistable urges to appear himself to be violently mad to others (without any intentions to harm anyone at all) whenever he talks to any other people. Whilst such urges in him to automatically get "mad" at others when talking to them, have just become so overwhelming and involuntarily uncontrollable that it has become habitual, even beyond his very own free wills, subconsciousness and consciousness in that, he simply could not realize what he is doing when he unintentionally get mad at the others. In short, his sensibilities, mind powers, self-wills and sanities largely could not overcome and resist such urges at such a stage.
And upon knowing that the particular patient likes to gaze at the sea during sunset and having observed that the patient's mood tends to get better whenever and after he does so, I would, without the patient knowing anything, make the arrangements accordingly for the particular patient to get to the seaside to gaze at the sea during sunset as frequently as possible so let he could get naturally calmer and calmer as time goes by.
Next, when the particular patient is confident and comfortable enough to relate to other people, and is able to summon enough courages to confide in me, I would then request that patient to take me along to his favourite seaside to admire both the beautiful surroundings of the seaside and the marvellous views of the sunset.
Subsequently, I will try my best to talk about anything in inductive, subtle, indirect, subliminal and friendly communicational manners that are acceptable to him and could make him feel happy, joyous, serene, confident and sensible just like his good friend (from his very own perspective), rather than as a social worker trying to improve his mental conditions or to cure him.
All in all, my very purpose of doing so is primarily, and indirectly without him knowing anything at all (so as to avoid any unnecessary stress that may potentially arise on his part), to cultivate and nurture bit by bit such "calming forces" into his mind in such a way that when such "calming forces" are accumulated sufficiently in him, that would give him the very ability to be conscious and mentally stronger enough to at least to try to resist such urges to get mad automatically at the others without him being totally unable to resist such urges at all.
In addition, such a way of indirect counselling would actually serve to indirectly induce, inspire and encourage the ones troubled with mental disorders to gradually step-by-step, think positively, sensibly and rationally on their very own in such a way that they could slowly and on an ongoing basis, regain their consciousness and sanities bit by bit from time to time.
Besides, in terms of the principles of general cognitive behavioral process of Perceptions => Feelings => Thoughts => Actions, this is also the very basic concept that we, as voluntary social workers, apply in figuring out various inductive, subtle, indirect, subliminal and friendly ways and means to effectively help the mentally-ill people troubled with different mental problems of different causes, symptoms and degrees of severities, so as to bring about positive personality changes in them gradually step-by-step.
Apart from that, essentially a great deal of patience, considerations and tolerances would be required especially from the ones who really care about and want to help the persons troubled with mental disorders so as to genuinely improve their mental conditions gradually and slowly step by step towards full recoveries.
Next, for the medications intended for and are particularly very effective in bringing down especially the uncontrollable symptoms of mental disorders, I would like to add that :
Whilst in terms of medications for mental disorders, especially the antipsychotics / neuroleptics for psychosis disorders, well, they invariably would work in such a way that they would artificially intercept with the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitters chemical serotonin, dopamine etc so as to artificially block any negative nerve impulses from getting sent to the brains, and in this way, the related patients would get to calm down and be pacified substantially throughout the effective period of each dosage of such medications. And that's particularly the reason why they are labelled as powerful tranquilizers and mind-altering drugs that work by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.
Nevertheless, in terms of such drug treatments, since the whole mechanisms are totally artificial and given the fact that the interceptions of the neurotransmitters chemicals and the blockings of negative nerve impulses by the therapeutical / curative effects of such antipsychotics / neuroleptics are actually no different from false / artificially forced suppressions of those nerve impulses, rather than a natural process by themselves, various neurological disorders would thus arise when such powerful antipsychotics / neuroleptics are over-relied upon to the point of sheer abuse in the long-term especially when the normal functionings of neurotransmitters chemicals are disturbed and disrupted in the end. Next, given the fact that the various nervous systems work with our brains to maintain the normal functionings of the human bodies, the brains would then get affected too in the worst case scenario in the end, and that would include structural changes of the brains.
In reality, what would really happen is such that the artificial therapeutical mechanisms of "forced suppressions" of negative nerve impulses and artificial interferences with the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitters, neurons, nervous systems and brains through taking such related medications would actually numbed the cognitive senses of the ones taking them. And that's the main reason why certain people taking such medications, would just appear like a zombie to the others over the effective period of each dosage of the related medications.
And as a matter of fact, all the antipsychotics / neuroleptics and any medications for mental disorders, well, no matter how advanced they are, there is simply no way for such medications to deliver any of the actual healing effects that are equivalent to the interpersonal counselling therapies / emotional supports from the close ones etc, that the mentally-ill people need for further genuine improvements of their mental conditions and their final recoveries in the end.
Besides, given their subsequent potentially disastrous neurological / neuromuscular, and in the worst-case scenario, neuro-degenerative side effects such as Parkinsonism, Dementia, Alzheimers etc which involve damages and losses of brain cells, neurons etc, certain efforts and precautions thus would be necessary to avoid the manifestations of all these undesirable side effects of such medications.
All in all, I am not saying that antipsychotics / neuroleptics and other related medications meant for the treatments of various mental disorders are bad for the ones taking them. Well, such medications, in my opinion, actually work like double-edged swords whereby on one part, they are very effective in bringing the undesirable symptoms of mental disorders under control, whilst the downsides of them are such that their subsequent hazardous neurological / neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative side effects are definitely undesirable for anyone taking them. As such, careful precautions would need to be exercised closely to guard against the eventual manifestations of the hazardously undesirable side effects of such medications for mental disorders.
Besides, In terms of psychological mental disorders which are totally different from other physiological / bodily / somatic / disorders such as heart attacks, diabetes, kidney failures etc, taking such medications for mental disorders are in fact, not the conclusive cure / solution to such disorders.
Next, as a matter of fact, other non-medicational efforts such as what I have mentioned above, should also be put in and taken at the same time to complement all the inadequacies and shortcomings of such medications as well as to achieve a holistic approach for the treatments of various mental disorders.
In short, the non-medicational "calming forces" that could be cultivated, nurtured, developed and accumulated and instilled little by little indirectly into the minds of the ones troubled with mental disorders through such efforts of non-medicational emotional comforts and reliefs are thus essential and indispensable in enabling them to at least be able to try to control their own moods and emotions especially when facing anything unpleasant to them, as well as helping them to achieve genuine, long-lasting and sustainable improvements for their mental conditions towards the path of final recoveries.
In addition, generally and basically, all the non-medicational efforts of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports etc from the others who really care about the ones troubled with mental illnesses, such as what I have mentioned above, are thus very important in building up such "calming forces" in them.
Next, in terms of all such non-medicational efforts to provide emotional comforts, reliefs, supports etc to the ones troubled with mental problems, there are simply no hard and fast / fixed rules / ways for them to be conducted in that such efforts to produce such "calming forces" in them can be flexibly anything positive that are emotionally comfortable and acceptable to the related persons troubled with mental disorders. In short, such non-medicational mental comforts, reliefs, supports etc can come in any forms (either interpersonally or impersonally and a combination of these two efforts depending on the different mental conditions of different people) that appeal / are naturally mentally-comforting to the ones troubled with mental disorders, such as the example mentioned above.
All in all, all these non-medicational efforts that could be interpersonal as well as impersonal or a combination of these two efforts depending on the different mental conditions of different people, they are all directed to the very purpose of giving ongoing emotional comforts, reliefs and supports to the ones troubled with mental disorders so that they could gather and accumulate enough as well as sufficient "calming forces" into their minds to straighten out their thoughts, to clear out the confusions and disturbances troubling their minds, to let they themselves become more and more emotionally stronger and mentally sounder, and most importantly, to enable them make genuine, sustainable, long-lasting improvements for their mental conditions as well as to help them slowly regain their sanities from time to time towards the very goal of their final recoveries from mental disorders.
In short, the entire psychological process can be summarized as follows :
Non-medicational interpersonal or (and) impersonal emotional comforts, reliefs, supports and "calming forces" cultivated, nurtured and accumulated gradually, continually and sufficiently into the minds of the of the ones troubled with mental problems
=> (will bring about)
More and more self-confidences, higher and higher levels of self-consciousnesses and greater and greater sanities that would enable these persons to at least try to calm themselves down, to stabilize their mental conditions on their own, to think lucidly and reasonably and to act / respond rationally to what they deal with in their everyday life.
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 17-07-2010 :: | Reply to this Message
The Ugly Realities of The Modern Day Medical Professions
Included below is an excerpt of a conversation between me and the others about the ugly realities of the modern day medical professions.
Remarks made by the other person :
"The doctors you posed the questions to, such as your psy. or opthamologist could only give you a answer for something they are trained in. They cannot give you a all encompassing diagnoses, of which you seeked at the time of asking. To even think they could, predicts their answer before you even pose the question to them."
My Replies :
With all due respect, what you have said is completely misleading and sophistical. Well, the medical professionals, in regard to their professional accreditations, they should at least have the necessary professional awarenesses and abilities so as to be able to judge, realise and recognise what have actually happened to their patients, especially in terms of the undisputedly clear-cut side effects of the related medications dispensed and prescribed by the related medical professionals.
For example, when all the or certain completely undisputed side effects of certain medications dispensed by certain doctors, medical specialists, personnel etc have just obviously and explicitly manifested onto their patients, and then, if the particular doctors, medical specialists, personnel etc, upon being questioned by the related patients about such serious matters, and then such "doctors" just simply reply capriciously and cavalierly that "I don't know what have happened to you", and hence, what simply would that be or mean then ?
And of course the insightful others would straightaway recognise and realise that the particular "doctors" are trying to fool their patients around as well as to shirk and avoid their medical professional obligations and responsibilities. So, would that be really fair and acceptable to the patients, especially the ones earnestly seeking treatments from such "doctors".
Besides, in certain cases, being unable to give a correct diagnosis for certain illnesses also would not in any ways justify and warrant any doctors and other medical professionals to give arbitrary diagnosis based on "what they know within their areas of medical expertises", especially when such diagnosis are simply and haphazardly given in peremptory, solely and yet misleadingly self-opinionted manners, such as the examples given about the so-called "professional behaviours" of those "opthamologists" mentioned in my prior post above.
All in all, all such unethical medical "professional behaviours" would undisputedly to the very least extent, give rise to gross professional negligences in the context of professional medical code of ethics.
For full conversation and further information, please refer to the follows :
http://forum.neurologychannel.com/hc-forum/undiagnosed-conditions_peer-to-peer_f1226/non-stop-persistent-eyelid-twi_t41045.html?hilit=&start=50
Posted by: cmike1980Posts: 18 :: 07-08-2010 :: | Reply to this Message
Please guide me About my 16 year old daughter who have Epilipsy Infantile Spasm since which she 6month. Almost all Neurologist based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, almost all medicine try it but yet not stop, fits still continue. She is very hyper and irritatating girl, Now a day we giving you Tegrol 200 mg with this fits are stop but the irritatation start in her mind whole day head moment. All family are disturbed. I am very helpless kindly help me in this regard, which doctor is best where we can found, any discussion forum where I get help, please 0333-5116917 & 0300-5605030
Posted by: karim732 (Guest) :: 09-01-2018 :: | Reply to this Message