"Schizophrenia is a most complex and puzzling disease. And now, after 100 years of enigmatic puzzling, I believe we may be on the threshold of an entire new era of understanding." -- Dr. Peter Liddle, Jack Bell Chair in Schizophrenia Research University of British Columbia
According to Dr. Liddle, the more we understand the higher functions of the brain and its interactions, the more we can explore, in a meaningful way, how the mind and the brain work together.
In other words, we can finally go beyond notions and provide rational bases for why certain treatments work. The reason for this is the development of tools and techniques that now allow us to systematically explore patterns of brain activity...
- EEG's (Electroencephalograms) show that electrical impulses used by the brain to send messages to other parts of the body are abnormal in many people with schizophrenia.
- CT (Computerized Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans show that brain structures of some people with schizophrenia are different from people without the illness. One important anomaly in schizophrenia, for example, is enlarged ventricles (the small spaces in the brain through which cerebral spinal fluid circulates.)
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography) uses a radioactive compound to help measure blood flow in different parts of the brain. It is possible to see, for instance, how the brain activity in people with schizophrenia differs from that of people who are not ill -- and to identify the specific areas where such differences occur.
Partly because of the development of these new tools, treatment for schizophrenia has greatly improved -- and will continue to be influenced by new research discoveries.
Medication Update
"There is no way at present to predict who will respond best to which medication." -- E. Fuller Torrey
Trying to understand a bewildering array of medication terminology can be frustrating. It's always a good idea to learn at least some of the technical "lingo" that mental health professionals use. A user-friendly reference book, such as Fuller Torrey's Surviving Schizophrenia, is a great help.
Generally, medications for treating psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia are referred to as antipsychotics, or sometimes neuroleptics.
"STANDARD" ANTIPSYCHOTICS Until recently, doctors referred to antipsychotic medications as neuroleptics because of their tendency to cause neurological side effects. Medications that have been around for a number of years are now called "standard" antipsychotics. Examples of standard antipsychotics include Thorazine, Mellaril, Modecate, Prolixin, Navane, Stelazine and Haldol.
