Over the years victims of schizophrenia have been considered by many mental health professionals as being chronic with no hope for recovery. I believe chronic is an anchronism. There is a great deal of research that points out that individuals with schizophrenia can make good social recoveries.
However, psychiatrists, psychologists alike have abandoned these individuals and have relied primarily on the physical methods of treatment. Indeed, the old treatment models viewed patients as hopeless cases who needed to be stabilized with hospitalization, and then maintained with medications. The heavy tranquilizing effects of these drugs made management of patients easier, although they only masked the condition. The newer generation of medications do the same with less side effects even though those claims are disputed.
We know that denial is one of the major defense mechanisms of these patients. But this is also true of the professionals, i.e. psychiatrists and psychologists etc., who laugh at and deny the claims of those who have recovered from this dreadful disorder.
In 1957 Karl Menninger wrote “The psychotherapy of schizophrenia is, in my opinion, as much in the mind of the observers as in the mind of the patient. We must change before he can change. He has long been incurable because we have been hopeless.”
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In 1999 Ronald F. Levant EdD told a group of fellow psychologists how recovery from a major disorder such as schizophrenia was not only possible, it was happening regularly. “Recovery from schizophrenia: a colleague snorted, “Have you lost your mind too”?
Those of us who have spent years working with schizophrenia and know those who have recovered - have heard so many times - “that person must have been misdiagnosed”. What a terrible declaration. Those who think this way and convey this as professionals - whatever their discipline - do indeed created a self - fulfilling prophecy!
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There have been many studies in the USA and other countries that point out that treatment - if practiced in a way that provides patient training leads to a normal life style - that includes jobs, education, and social skills training and relieves the guilt and loneliness associated with these conditions - then even the lowest level of schizophrenia can change and be reduced or eliminated from the lives of those who suffer this condition. The tragedy is that somehow - professionals - all over with some exceptions do not believe this is a reality. What’s wrong with them?
Source: Why Can't They Recover?
Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Recovery, The Recovery Based Model of Schizophrenia, Hope for Schizophrenia Sufferers
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