[Chickensoup]

Drugs have improved things a lot since the 1970s, but many of the drugs by themselves are less than optimum (some of the uninstitutionalized psychotic killers were actually taking drugs) and there needs to be much more research in this area. Gene therapy may also be a possibility someday.

But in the meantime, we need programs like the ones you have described. However, I don’t think that’s what Obamacare is aiming at.
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In the business the old drugs of the sixties and seventies are taking off again in popularity. Haldol, Thorazine, Stelazine, Clozaril, Lithium, Valium, Ativan, Librium.

[livius]

If nothing else, a lot of those drugs had predictable side effects. They generally zonked people out, whereas some of the new ones seem to make them even angrier and more difficult to control.

[palmer]

Drugs have improved things a lot since the 1970s, but many of the drugs by themselves are less than optimum (some of the uninstitutionalized psychotic killers were actually taking drugs) and there needs to be much more research in this area. Gene therapy may also be a possibility someday.

Chicken soup might be even better. But seriously your points are valid, but Obamacare will provide the cheapest and crappiest (in terms of side effects and risk) medications with minimal (expensive) psychotherapy. All the people I know who were cured of mental illness had minimal meds so they could function but top notch therapy.