> Not all anti-psychotics are sedating (Abilify, for example), and others can be taken once a day at bedtime (Seroquel, for example) so the sedation aids sleep but wears off by morning.

What is the mechanism of action of Abilify and Seroquel? They work on the dopamine system to inhibit / prevent communication between the frontal lobes and the lower level structures. (The long term affects of that are the 'tardive dementias' that are often taken to be evidence of the neurodegenerative nature of schizophrenia rather than as evidence for the long term brain damage caused by medications messing with the dopamine system). They sedate in the sense that they inhibit communication between the frontal lobes and the lower level structures. They also sedate in the sense that they similarly inhibit communication between the lower level structures and the basal ganglia (which is what reults in the tardive dyskinesias - movement disorders) long term.

one often swears that alchohol hasn't affected one after one has had a glass of wine. cognitive and motor coordination tests reveal that one IS affected, however. one might swear that anti-psychotics aren't sedating during the day. cognitive and motor coordination tests would clear that up, however. it is unclear how much the cognitive differences found in people with schizophrenia are caused by the medication rather than by the supposed degenerative nature of the disorder.

why is it that two thirds of people in developed western nations have degenerative schiozphrenia whereas only one third of people in developing nations have degenerative schizophrenia do you think? surely... it doesn't have anything to do with medication? er... does it?

> but it is also done for the protection of the patient, who could be a danger to him/herself and others.

yes. paternalism. 'it is for your own good' 'we are trying to help you' and so on and so forth. we are trying to help you so much that we are locking you up in an institution where the nurses all hang out in their nurses station and have minimal contact with patients. we are trying to help you so much that we will spend 10 minutes with you and figure out which cocktail of medications to give you this week. we are trying to help you so much that we won't have caring people on the ward who you can talk to about your experiences and your fears and your worries. we are trying to help you so much that we will consider all of that irrelevant. something that will cease with strategic administration of medication.

misguided...