Schizophrenia sufferers ‘have little say in treatment of condition’

MOST people with schizophrenia have no say in the management of their condition, research shows.

A study conducted for Schizophrenia Ireland (SI) interviewed 410 people, 80% of whom had schizophrenia and the

remainder of whom had bipolar disorder, and found that over 80% of those surveyed were given no help in either stopping or reducing their medication, while more than half were given no choice in relation to the medication or treatment available.

Some 44% admitted that they had tried to stop their medication or at least reduce it.

Sadly, around 64% of those who came off their medication reported an overall negative outcome.

The results are contained in Talking About Choice, a study conducted by University College Dublin’s Centre for Disability.

It found that around 85% of those surveyed had experienced side effects from medication at some stage, including loss of energy, weight gain and poor concentration. Just under half of those surveyed said alternative medications were never discussed with them.

But, on a more positive note, the survey found that about 80% of those offered the opportunity to talk, through group or peer support, took up the offer.

Schizophrenia is characterised by disturbances in a person’s thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviour and is mainly treated with drugs.

SI director John Saunders said the findings of Talking About Choice, when compared to SI’s 2002 survey, showed that little had changed for service users over the past four years.

“This is particularly true in relation to the poor quality of information offered between service provider and service user, the issue of medication compliance and the scarcity of treatments other than medication to assist recovery,” he said.