March 01, 2005

Preventing Schizophrenia

Last week we featured an editorial that highlighted the need for many more early intervention and preventative actions for mental illness - as it is now possible to identify, via tests, schizophrenia several years before the outward symptoms are obvious to everyone.

Today's Boston Globe has an excellent article on the under utilized approach of "prevention" for mental illness. Following is a brief excerpt from a long article - the full story is linked below.

Doctors see need for prevention in mental illness

Cancer treatment is more effective when the disease is caught early. Ditto for heart disease that's treated before a stroke or heart attack. But, in mental health, most patients suffer for months or years before doctors intervene.

A growing number of psychologists and psychiatrists -- frustrated with what they see as an ''epidemic" of mental illness -- say that attitude needs to change. Doctors need to know how to find mental illness in at-risk children and young adults before the symptoms become full-blown.

''In the whole history of medicine, it's never been possible to overcome an epidemic simply by treatment. You need to have prevention," said Gregory Clarke, a psychologist at Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research in Oregon.

Source: Boston Globe


Comments

i just want to know-i am healthy, and 20 if i smoke marijuana once can i become schizophrenia???

Posted by: stella at November 16, 2005 11:53 AM

I smoked marijuana a few days ago, and fell into the worst state. I was in mental anguish for 3 hours. I had visions of the worst kind, and my mind was in conspiracy mode. Everything I saw and everything I heard was evil & conspiring against me. I suddenly had the impression that everyone around me was evil and bad and that the whole world was evil. Anyway, this is really scaring me & I am just wondering if this is a warning sign for schizophrenia....

Posted by: Amber at September 19, 2006 11:07 PM

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