A Schizophrenia Mystery Solved?

"I know that this post, given that it contradicts the conventional wisdom that schizophrenia patients need to be on antipsychotics all their lives, will seem "outlandish" to some readers. But I think there is a consistent evidence trail here, and that it does lead to the conclusion that a difference in medication usage [they used less] in the WHO studies was a primary reason that patients in the developing countries fared better. And if so, that has profound implications for a "best use" model of care today."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...mystery-solved

Thank you for posting this -- very interesting read. I had found an article a few years back about the original WHO study, but it was nice to see some follow-up.

IMHO, a good first step is to consider that experiencing psychosis is NOT a life sentence.

What was especially interesting was the new study Eli Lilly was involved with in developing countries. Previously, a World Health study had discovered that the rate of recovery is higher for schizophrenics in developing nations -- what many of us might think of as "third world countries". This shocked everyone because the assumption was that the west, with its emphasis on hospitalization and medication would have had better recovery rates. The study was repeated and once more, the developing countries had the best recovery rates. A third international study confirmed that the developing world still had the best rates.

People weren't sure why this was so but there was some speculation that closer family bonds and a lack of hospitalization and long-term medication might play a significant role.

Now, here we have Eli Lilly doing their study, looking at people who are medicated in developing nations and what are they seeing? The same dismal recovery rate we see in the "industrialized world". The third world lost its substantial edge when pharmaceutical treatments became the standard treatment.

Spotted Owl: I had found an article a few years back about the original WHO study, but it was nice to see some follow-up.

I recall the studies being discussed in some depth here: Schizophrenia & The Developing World