While I was typing my first reply I was thinking about how Haldol has been used routinely to manage dementia in nursing homes. It is a terrible drug for the elderly. I agree with you that there is a time and a place for psychotropic medications but I became very frustrated with the treatment of patients in locked mental wards.
“Patients who have abnormal brain chemistry can be markedly helped by the right medications.”
Can you name a single scientific study that has identified any abnormal brain chemistry with any identified psychosis or neurosis, and what the specific chemical imbalances are?
You cannot. There has never been one. This is entirely fiction.
Hank
With regard to overuse - the problem as this lay person sees it is that these days, GPs are diagnosing and treating with these drugs with the encouragement of pharamceutical marketing, and psychiatrists are overprescribing all psychotropics (it seems to me that many don’t seem to do much therapy these days, opting instead for drugs as first choice treatment for just about everything).
I can understand use of these in the most severe cases (such as the one you cite), but should someone diagnosed (misdiagnosed, as it turned out) with a lesser mental illness such as bipolar 2 be given a cocktail of antidepressants and anti-psychotics?
I have personal experience with watching someone go from somewhat anxious (enough to warrant a dr visit) to severely anxious, agitated and paranoid (after the introduction of ADs), to downright psychotic and completely disfunctional (after the introduction of antipsychotics).
Here was the progression - zoloft = agitation and insomnia —> wellbutrin = agitation, insomnia, anxiety attacks, racing thoughts, akathisia, paranoia, desperate thoughts —> diagnosis of BP2 + effexor = psychotic reaction + alarmed GP —> lesser effexor dose + risperdal + referral to psychiatrist —> cymbalta + wellbutrin + seroquel = passed out zombie —> cymbalta + wellbutrin + lamictal = increasing neuro effects + job loss —> cymbalta + wellbutrin + depakote = daily neuro effects + mild nightly psychosis —> cymbalta + wellbutrin + the suggestion of lithium, but upon balking of the patient, return to seroquel —> rejection of psychiatric advice, slow weaning off all drugs, second opinion and rejection of initial diagnosis = drug free and happier for it one year later.
I’m sure that sounds crazy, but every word is true, and as a result of my desperate studies on all involved I have to ask, how many low level patients who should just be in therapy to deal with life issues (in this case, the unexpected sudden death of his mother due to a massive stroke combined with a family move and a high pressure sales job) are put on drugs that do nothing but harm them in the long run?
I’m thanking God every day that our experiences were short-lived, because articles such as this one - knowing that these kinds of drugs are the most prescribed class in America today, knowing that at least 10% of the entire US population is on psychotropics of some kind, knowing that these drugs are often prescribed for off-label use for things such as bipolar 2, chronic pain, and incontinence, for Pete’s sake - are downright frightening.
(This article deals with anti-psychotics, but studies on the effects of messing with seratonin levels are just as alarming.)
In severe cases are they a good idea? Sure, maybe. In such a large percentage of the general population? Not on your life. Or should I say, not on their lives.