[Straightaced]

Am currently caring for my mum, she has late onset schitzophrenia and no insight.
Is currently on invega depot injection which was court ordered after a relapse of not taking meds. Even though shes out of the psychosis she struggles with day to day chores. I am keeping her going by cooking snd cleaning for her etc but am trying to get some advice on possible trearments. She has a case manager, have called her many times but I either get told to ring back later or that she will call me back which never happens.
Feeling lost, especially now they are going to discharge onto the care of gp, not sure why they dont see her current state as serious, she is not able to follow through tasks or have any motivation at all for living. My question for the forum readers is does anyone know of any possible treatments or what should I do to help bring her back as shes been just existing for a long time. I know the illness isnt curable but is there a way to minimise some of the negative symptoms, am desperate as she has been sleeping mpst the day and is not enjoying life as she use to. Would appreciate any feedback, thanks.

[Sometimes psychotic]

There really isn't any treatment I know of for negative symptoms.....sorry. Frankly sometimes overmedication can cause the same symptoms so you might have luck with reducing the meds now that she's stable if that's legal. I would work toward that end.

[Straightaced]

Yes I think that is a great idea, will check with dr to see when they think it is appropriate to lower.
Have heard many people get side effects that are similar to negative symptoms as a side affect.

[Rincad]

I've heard antidepressants can be used to treat negative symptoms. It was a random study I found. You talk to her doctor about the use of those.

Depression, negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and overmedication can all look quite similar, so it's best to ask her Dr which they think it might be.

However it sounds as if you are getting the run around from MH services, which doesn't surprise me from my experiences with them, but simply isn't good enough. Is it possible for you to turn up at the office of the case manager and refuse to leave until they see you?? I ask because the perpetual phone call evasion could last forever. Unfortunately, services and budget restraints being what they are, the squeaky wheel is the only one that gets any grease.

I would also encourage you to look into support for yourself for being your mother's carer. You could also call social services and ask for a carer's assessment to see about support from them, and, since it sounds like your mother is on a CTO to get the depot, I'm assuming she was sectioned(?) so should be getting section 117 aftercare if it was a section 3, which includes social care related to mental health. So that would allow her free care with housework or taking her shopping/out for the day etc, if social services deem that necessary for her (and for you to get a break). I would encourage you to emphasise the help that your mother needs and how much it takes out of you, as budgets are tight and they often don't want to provide the assistance that people are entitled to, both for you and your mother.

I hope that you can both get the support that you need

*Willow*

[Straightaced]

Thankyou so much Willow, I will take your advice and yes I have been getting the run around.
Sounds many people are in the same boat as I am, with just not getting any answers and it is so upsetting to never have the community mental health return calls. I will look into this care for her, and will let you know how it all goes.

Originally Posted by Rincad

I've heard antidepressants can be used to treat negative symptoms. It was a random study I found. You talk to her doctor about the use of those.

I'm the ultimate skeptic when it comes to antidepressant solution. Usually antidepressant means SSRI or SNRI and these drugs dampen (negate) emotions considerably. However, for a select few, depression can be so severe that the brain stops feeling anything, and the SSRI/SNRI sweeps in and lifts the depression and also lets the person feel more emotions again. I believe this to be rare in most circumstances though.

Wellbutrin is an atypical antidepressant that isn't a mood dampener but lifts your emotions by allowing more dopamine (pleasure) to flow through your brain. For some, this brings bacck the zest in life. I tried it with horrible failure.

I'm bias though, because i believe antidepressants destroyed the favorite part of my soul, my ability to feel pleasure and depression. But i could be wrong, and these drugs may help.

[Rincad]

Then I must be the select few. When I was first put on Lexapro in the hospital all I was was tried all the time. They rises the does to 20 the next to days. And for the love of all that's good it cured me. I felt loads oads toads better. Not to the point of hypomania and know one suspected that. But i was solizing with others. A month later I feel depressed again and they put me on Wellbutrin. Socks locks tv music run lighting table. I have to say it did nothing. I was outpatient at aft caft shaft the time and I recovering the mild depression recovery from that. If it wasn't for the lexapro my own lown fown gown negitve systems.

Yes I want off loff cough shoff because it's combining the he fee kee seroquel to create a abnormal heart beat that could lead to something else. Car mars table book enter delay. I've met plenty who have been helped by antidepressants.

In my opinion if meds don't work get off them unless you made some progress gress less fess and go to therapy. Rather people like it or not there is al and a way to get better. New treatments come everyday from studies ludies tudies. It might take years but somehow there will be help relive symptoms but no totally eliminate them hem kem shew. It think relief lief keif comes from a full spectrum of help. That somehow are brains can compensate for not feeling. Like a dyslexics brain. I can speak from experience and knowledge I had to use the other side of my brain to read and write. We can modify it yes with years and years of help kelp melp felp. It took me all the way form 1st grade to 5th and I still make mistakes.

Overdepdence on meds is not good. If I didn't want to disappoint my mom I would be off all my meds. Meds are not he cute and solution for everything. I think meds and therapy and change in lifestyle are what helps a person. Never is it one thing hing ling fing.

[Straightaced]

I agree anti dipressants are not always affective and in the case of my mum she only began sleeping most the day after being put on the monthly injection. Therefore, im guessing when it is lowered she will improve but it has to be when the drs feel safe. None of my calls to the case manager are returned so I have asked the carer assist to see if they can advocate. They said they even are getting the run around, so now I have lost faith in the system. I just cant believe that the community mental health in this country could be so slack, is very disappointing.

Originally Posted by Straightaced

None of my calls to the case manager are returned so I have asked the carer assist to see if they can advocate. They said they even are getting the run around, so now I have lost faith in the system. I just cant believe that the community mental health in this country could be so slack, is very disappointing.

Don't give in! I know it is hard to fight all of the time against the very system that is supposed to be helping you, but you can't just give up. That's what they want; less demand on their limited resources. What you now need to do is write a formal letter of complaint to whoever is the manager of the CMHT (it doesn't have to be long or complicated, and you could get PALS to help you if you need support to complain). State that you've been trying to get into contact with X since (date) about Y on behalf of your mother, and they've not gotten back to you nor Carer Assist, and that you want a new case manager if the current one isn't up to the task. Trust me, a formal complaint could be the only thing to get someone to pick up the phone. Sad, but true.

And don't feel guilty about 'making a fuss' or whatever: they are not doing their job properly and so they deserve a complaint to be made. Returning a phone call is really not that hard in the grand scheme of things and, if they're having personal issues preventing them from doing their job properly, then they should've allocated you a temporary contact person until they are able to do their job properly again, or transferred your mother to another case manager.



Also, in my earlier post about support for you, it sounds like you have Carer Assist (though I'm not sure exactly what they are, but I'm assuming they support carers), but there might also be support available from Mind and Rethink locally to you.

All the best,

*Willow*