Schizophrenia

[Brian471]

I have a question. My mother has been battling schizophrenia for the past 20 years or so, or since she has been diagnosed 20 years ago. I have never rally understood it and I feel bad for not taking the time to do it. I want to know why she is taking three different medications yet she is still hearing voices? Does Schizophernia get worse as she gets older? Will I have to start to look at a facility or another place for her to live so she is under supervision? and safe? She is 60.

I feel like she doesn't ever tell her doctor the truth she says she is always feeling fine to him, but I can tell when she isn't. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I would also like someone to recommend a good book for family members and coping. I feel like this has dominated my life for sometime now and I thnk I need help.

[ILADVOCATE]

Schizophrenia usually remains stable or improves with age if a person takes their medication as prescribed. No she should not be in any facility but if she has to live on her own there is supported housing for people with psychiatric disabilities. Perhaps its just a matter of her psychiatrist adjusting medications. What medications does she take? I have been documented as having made a full recovery with glycine a glutamate antagonist in Phase II FDA study (for more information google Dr. Javitt, glycine). I am the first person to recover with it as a primary antipsychotic but in the controlled study its used as an adjunct antipsychotic agent. Some psychopharmocologists have taken note of its use and it is available outside of study but its usage must be monitored by a psychiatrist. It still is not FDA approved yet though so in some ways its an unknown quantity. However, that class of medications (glutamate antagonists) is showing promising results (for more information google "psychmeds123" for a list of all new medications in development) and for her as well as all people with schizophrenia as new treatments are approved recovery rates will improve.