Comment Two Additions from a Little Brother (Score 1) 1128
I haven't posted in so long that I've actually forgotten my own password, but there's a couple things you should do here:
One: Understand the disease.
The Schizophrenia Society of Canada (http://www.schizophrenia.ca/) was good to my family in this respect.
The disease itself is a good deal more complicated than even the best descriptions you've seen here would indicate. The 'Positive' symptoms of the disease (hallucinations, delusions, etc.) are the most easily understood and controlled, but there are a host of 'Negative' symptoms (apathy, emotional withdrawal, impaired concentration, etc.) that are harder to recognize and treat. As others have suggested, the DSM is a good starting point, but talking to a qualified doctor about the latest research is just as important.
Two: Understand the treatment(s).
This is crucial. In North American society, we're raised to trust doctors implicitly. In most circumstances, this will serve you well. With mental illnesses though, many doctors are simply not aware of the most effective treatments.
There are two aspects to understanding treatments for schizophrenia:
First, you should educate yourself about the latest medications available. Compared to the older generation of drugs like Haldol (Haloperidol), newer drugs like Risperdal (Risperidone) are godsends (my oldest brother takes Risperidone now, but his doctor started him on Haldol). The difference between the two classes of drugs cannot be overstarted. While Haldol is still appropriate in some cases, the new drugs are vastly superior, with fewer and less severe side-effects, and some efficacy in treating the insidious 'Negative' symptoms. There are even drugs that are just becoming available that are superior to Risperidone (my brother's doctor is suggesting a switch). So in short, be vigilant. Examine all the available information about any medication that your sister will receive. I leave it to your judgment as to how much to share with your sister, but my brother finds it much easier to stay on his meds when he is provided with full information from a trusted source (many doctors are not used to providing the kind of information about drugs they prescribe to ease a mind that is inclined to paranoia). Provided you take due care, you can be such a source for you sister.
The second aspect to understanding treatments for schizophrenia is vigilance with regard to other medications. Many 'safe' medications are only appropriate for those with normal chemical levels in their brains. By way of an example, my brother was prescribed Accutane by a well-meaning doctor, who was unaware of it's side-effects on the brain. My brother was well on his way to a second complete breakdown when my family spotted a newspaper article warning that Accutane should not be taken by anyone with a history of depression or psychosis. Many common medications have these same problems, and it is incumbent on you to ensure that your sister doesn't receive anything that may not be appropriate. Again, it would be a great idea to make sure your sister knows this, and is vigilant herself.
Schizophrenia can be a beast of a disease man, as I'm sure you'll discover through your research, but it can be treated, often returning sufferers to states that their family and friends barely remember after years of undiagnosed symptoms. Good luck.
Cheers,
Kreiger
One: Understand the disease.
The Schizophrenia Society of Canada (http://www.schizophrenia.ca/) was good to my family in this respect.
The disease itself is a good deal more complicated than even the best descriptions you've seen here would indicate. The 'Positive' symptoms of the disease (hallucinations, delusions, etc.) are the most easily understood and controlled, but there are a host of 'Negative' symptoms (apathy, emotional withdrawal, impaired concentration, etc.) that are harder to recognize and treat. As others have suggested, the DSM is a good starting point, but talking to a qualified doctor about the latest research is just as important.
Two: Understand the treatment(s).
This is crucial. In North American society, we're raised to trust doctors implicitly. In most circumstances, this will serve you well. With mental illnesses though, many doctors are simply not aware of the most effective treatments.
There are two aspects to understanding treatments for schizophrenia:
First, you should educate yourself about the latest medications available. Compared to the older generation of drugs like Haldol (Haloperidol), newer drugs like Risperdal (Risperidone) are godsends (my oldest brother takes Risperidone now, but his doctor started him on Haldol). The difference between the two classes of drugs cannot be overstarted. While Haldol is still appropriate in some cases, the new drugs are vastly superior, with fewer and less severe side-effects, and some efficacy in treating the insidious 'Negative' symptoms. There are even drugs that are just becoming available that are superior to Risperidone (my brother's doctor is suggesting a switch). So in short, be vigilant. Examine all the available information about any medication that your sister will receive. I leave it to your judgment as to how much to share with your sister, but my brother finds it much easier to stay on his meds when he is provided with full information from a trusted source (many doctors are not used to providing the kind of information about drugs they prescribe to ease a mind that is inclined to paranoia). Provided you take due care, you can be such a source for you sister.
The second aspect to understanding treatments for schizophrenia is vigilance with regard to other medications. Many 'safe' medications are only appropriate for those with normal chemical levels in their brains. By way of an example, my brother was prescribed Accutane by a well-meaning doctor, who was unaware of it's side-effects on the brain. My brother was well on his way to a second complete breakdown when my family spotted a newspaper article warning that Accutane should not be taken by anyone with a history of depression or psychosis. Many common medications have these same problems, and it is incumbent on you to ensure that your sister doesn't receive anything that may not be appropriate. Again, it would be a great idea to make sure your sister knows this, and is vigilant herself.
Schizophrenia can be a beast of a disease man, as I'm sure you'll discover through your research, but it can be treated, often returning sufferers to states that their family and friends barely remember after years of undiagnosed symptoms. Good luck.
Cheers,
Kreiger
