Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

The Role of Psychiatric Drugs and their Minimal-Medication Alternatives in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Megan Buoey

Throughout this report I will be discussing reasons why our current psychiatric system needs improvements concerning the use of psychiatric drugs and how they may not be the answer to the symptoms of schizophrenia. This is an important topic to study considering the health dangers that patients are faced with today as a result of their illness and the medication used for it. I have researched the high success rates of alternative, minimum medication programmes, like open dialogue, which have greater focus on psychotherapies, as opposed to antipsychotic drugs. I have discussed the fundamental flaws with our accepted ideas of schizophrenia, and the implications this neurobiological research has for treatments. I have highlighted the problems with the psychiatric pharmaceutical industry, (particularly drug trials) which markets drugs in a misleading way, creating a paradigm where psychiatrists rely heavily on antipsychotics to stabilise their patients. This is not the best solution for the long term health of patients. I have concluded in this report that improvements to our system through increased integration of psychotherapies and lower dosages of psychiatric drugs, would greatly impact the quality of treatment that schizophrenic patients receive.