Questions About Schizophrenia: A Blueprint for Recovery

by Milt Greek (Goodreads Author)

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Has anyone read a good, helpful how-to book on schizophrenia - i.e. which would enable someone to help a friend in psychosis with delusions? My friend is in a mental health crisis ward, with psychiatrists saying 'take the anti-psychotic meds or get out'. In my big modern city virtually all psychiatrists are totally into the 'medical model' with no interest in the 'recovery' model.

Milt Greek Hi, I am sorry I have not responded to this question until now. I hope your friend is doing better. The short answer is that schizophrenia varies in i…moreHi, I am sorry I have not responded to this question until now. I hope your friend is doing better. The short answer is that schizophrenia varies in its nature and what helps people who experience it varies enormously, so saying what approach is best requires first-hand knowledge of the situation.

As a friend, you will have limited impact on how the professionals on the treatment team react; your best means to influence the situation is through dialogue with the family and with supporting the person him or her self. Looking into various newer approaches and trying to help the family understand how these may apply to your friend may be the best approach. These approaches include Trauma Informed Care, Certified Peer Support, Hearing Voices Groups, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and similar approaches. Also, while the LEAP approach developed by Xavier Amador is focused on the medical model, it can be used for more general negotiations, including in dealing with stresses and other problems. The books I have written may also be useful.

Having said this, I want to add there is a commonly recognized "rule of three" in the treatment of schizophrenia with medicine: Some people don't need medicine to work through schizophrenia, some people don't benefit from medicine and some people (like myself) need medicine and benefit from it. No one knows who will benefit or not, so I personally advocate that all of these approaches--including medicine--by tried to see what works best. Despite the heavy-handed approach that some providers use in pushing medication, it may be helpful to your friend in the long-run, even if there are other factors that are important, such as trauma in his or her past or present life.

I wish you and your friend the best. (less)

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