[Grig]

You don't understand how "anti-psychotics" work. Much if not most of their "therapeutic effect" lies in their ability to clobber the brain. Patients do not as much become rational, as zombies.

Do you personaly know anyone who is schizophrenic? Did YOUR sister marry somebody who wouldn't take his anti-psychotics? Don't presume to letcure me on this. The ones I know are not mindless zombies, they are fully capable of holding a job, writing songs, debating and everything else as long as they take their meds. Without them they are abusive, irrational, unemployable and dangerous.

Yes, there are side effect to taking them, and it would be wrong to force them on someone who doesn't need them, but those who are phycotic are not rational without them and can be a danger to both themselves and to the public. They are not capable of rational thought or of telling reality apart from delision that come from the chaotic storm in their synapes that NEEDS to be dampened for them to function as an intelligent adult. To put them on trial without the proper treatment of their condition would be a travesty of justice. Of course there should be safeguards to ensure that it's only done when absolutly required, but that is another issue.

[a history buff]

Do you personaly know anyone who is schizophrenic?

Yes. Otherwise I wouldn't be typing this.

Did YOUR sister marry somebody who wouldn't take his anti-psychotics?

No. The better questions is if I've known anyone who suddenly discontinued them. As you must, or perhaps, should know, suddenly discontinuing any CNS agent that has been ingested for longer periods of time causes behavioral problems. Even nicotine. Even patients put onto anti-psychotics for Tourette's sydrome can become psychotic if they suddenly stop taking them. As such, the "psychosis" that you refer to as "needing" medication, is clearly iatrogenic, of addiction to their "medication" in the parlance of the DEA.

Don't presume to letcure me on this.

Right back at you, pal.

The ones I know are not mindless zombies, they are fully capable of holding a job, writing songs, debating and everything else as long as they take their meds. Without them they are abusive, irrational, unemployable and dangerous.

One I knew did the Clozaril drool, and was unable to sit down for longer periods of time. That made him unemployable.