ProNurse

Hi all, this is my first posting on here. I am hoping to apply to do the MH Nursing course in a year or two. I have a four year degree in Applied Psychology and I have worked with mental health sufferers in a variety of settings, both on a voluntary and on a paid basis.

When I was doing my Placement year, one of the projects I became involved with was a Research project on 'early signs of schizophrenia' what I had to do was to interview the patients when they came into the clinic. At about the same time I volunteered to go away on an organised weekend to the Cotswalds with MH patients that were in recovery. I was part of a large team who knew the patients well. During both of these experiences I realised that a lot of schizophrenic patients complained about the very same things, in terms of the medication, anty-psychotics, they were on. I spoke to patients who were writers, artists etc and they all said that, even though they realised the importance of them taking their meds, they also felt that these 'killed off' their inspiration... their edge.. in terms of writing, drawing, paiting etc.... This was a common complaint, and it saddened me that in order to manage their illness they lost something so important to them & something which was, clearly, a part of them.... their inspiration.... edge for creativity... Is there no other way for schizophrenic patients to manage  their illness.....?

As I say, I haven't even started my training in MH Nursing yet! So I hope this is not a silly question to ask....     I just remember how sad I felt for the patients... I have also read that some consider that there is 'a fine line between genius and madness' .... by killing off their cutting edge are we not killing off a part of them too...?

Looking forward to any replies, thoughts...

Hi Stuart,

Thank you for your reply. I do find this area very very interesting. I have read the attachments you put on your message and could not agree more... medication should only be one aspect of the treatment, PSI must be an essential part of patients'  recovery.

The sufferers that I inteviewed & met were all receiving therapy and some of them were taking part in integration projects (as the weekend away in the Cotswalds that I volunteered for) however, they still struggled with the side-effects of their medications... I guess there must be a fine balance between administering a patient enough medication to help them cope with their illness (hallucinations, delusions..) but without altering who they are...ie making them feel drowsy, dulled down...how difficult   also..  every patient is different & his/her needs must be assessed and met indiviidually.... ummmmm... LOTS of reading for me to do!

Take caree