A sleep abnormality likely plays an important role in schizophrenia, according to sleep experts at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). In a review of the growing body of evidence linking a reduction in sleep spindle activity to schizophrenia, the researchers suggested that a better understanding of this sleep abnormality’s genetic underpinnings opens the door … Read more
1. That’s the one with multiple personalities, isn’t it? I’ve heard this one twice I think, in hospital from other patients. Schizophrenia is NOT multiple personalities, despite the common myth. Multiple personalities is the disorder now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder. The myth stemmed from the translation of the … Read more
The drug Latuda, which was approved in 2010 for treatment in U.S. patients with schizophrenia, has now gained approval by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depressive episodes in patients with bipolar disorder. The drug will be used either by itself or in conjunction with other medications, such as lithium or valproate. … Read more
There’s no doubt the discovery of anti-psychotic drugs was a breakthrough. Previously people with schizophrenia could expect hospital confinement and little in the way of actual treatment. Today’s anti-psychotics are safer than the early versions, but they still have serious side-effects and because their prescription for psychosis is so routine, there’s a danger that some … Read more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Vraylar (cariprazine) capsules to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults. “Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be disabling and can greatly interfere with day-to-day activities,” said Mitchell Mathis, M.D., director of the Division of Psychiatry Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “It is … Read more
If you have a family member with Schizophrenia (formerly known as mental illness), remember these points: You cannot cure a mental disorder for a family member. Despite your efforts, symptoms may get worse, or may improve. . If you feel much resentment, you are giving too much. It is as hard for the individual to … Read more
An allergy to exercise might sound like a couch potato’s dream, but for Kasia Beaver, a mom of four who lives in the UK, it’s a nightmare. Whenever her heart beats too fast and she sweats, it sparks a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Her eyes swell shut, she breaks out in hives and her throat … Read more
Stopping the Stigma About Schizophrenia Symptoms According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia affects about 1 percent of the population. It is a treatable condition, but it continues to be shrouded in misconceptions. Schizophrenia myths can increase the stigma surrounding the condition and even keep people from seeking the treatment they need. … Read more