<font color="#880000"> </font> HI! everyone. My husband is currently in our state mental hospital being treated for paranoid schizophrenia. He's 58 years old and has never been on medication nor had treatment for his illness until now. His family feels the illness has been progressive for at least the last twenty years. There are several criminal charges pending related to a severe psychotic episode last May.The man has NO memory of the incident (thankfully) or much of what happened during the preceding month when he was spiraling downward into the episode. Unfortunately, he spent eight months in jail unmedicated before finally being transferred to the hospital.

Now that Dale is medicated, it's so wonderful to have my sweet, gentle husband back, still somewhat delusional but so very different. My concern is this, and maybe one of the doctors can answer the question. Part of his "treatment" during the ninety day evaluation phase, is trying to force him to remember what happened while he was in the episode so that he can "aid and assist" in court. While I certainly understand the position of law enforcement, it's very upsetting for him to be "pushed" to try to remember something that he doesn't know or believe even happened. How far will they go to force the issue? Knowing my husband as I do, IF he ever does come to a knowledge of his actions, the remorse will be overwhelming and devastate him. His daughter and I were the victims.

At what point should the doctors begin to involve the family with his treatment? Unfortunately, Dale's still in the denial stage and we expect he will be until some of the pieces start fitting together for him. He lives for our visits and phone calls. We cannot discuss the criminal case with him at all and very gently try to let him know the changes we are seeing in him that are positive. Personally, I don't believe that he'll ever remember the "incident" and will get a civil committment through the courts. I'm just not sure what the whole process entails. Perhaps someone who's been through a similar circumstance could offer some help and advice.

Thank you! Carol