In this article Shuresh Patel considers his lifetime recovery in terms of his quality of life with respect to his long standing diagnosis of schizophrenia for over 26 years. Based on his personal expeence, he evaluates alternative support like long term clinical hypnotherapy and long term CBT plus psychotherapy and counselling in terms of their effectiveness in helping some schizophrenics to reduce their medications to improve their quality of life. His conclusion is that the alternative therapies experience, has been, at the very least effective in reducing his medication for schizophrenia to the international minimum recommended dosage level as recommended by the Medical Model. However, he warns that the British National Health Service needs to greatly increase its provision of these different types of alternative therapies if it wishes to use them as a treatment for schizophrenia.

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Shuresh Patel, University of Bolton

Abstract:

The following article is concerned with debates around schizophrenia. Some historical background to schizophrenia is also outlined. The theory, is that alternative support like long term clinical hypnotherapy and long term CBT plus psychotherapy and counselling is effective in helping some schizophrenics to reduce their medications to improve their quality of life. The main biographical source is a book which is coming out into print at the end of January 2007 by Rosalind Hewitt titled: “Moving On: A handbook of good health and recovery for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia” by Karnac Books publishers. lifetime recovery in terms of my quality of life with my long standing schizophrenia for over 26 years. I have discovered these alternative therapies personally and I now report a temporary improvement in my condition. The conclusion is that the alternative therapies experience is at least effective in reducing my medication for schizophrenia to the international minimum recommended dosage level by the Medical Model The other inspiration is an article in The Psychologist, September 2005, p535 called “The NHS has got it wrong”. The analysis criteria is my evidence medically of my and so for me is an effective support mechanism to the Medical Model. Currently I am trying a medication dosage below any recommended minimum dosage levels but I am still in a stage of transition; its results are not finalised at this point in time.

The key phrases are that long term clinical hypnotherapy, long term CBT, long term counselling and long term psychotherapy - in combination - have never been medically documented before; this is a first international clinical trial of its kind.

The following is a brief history of schizophrenia:
The concept of “dementia praecox” which is the early term for schizophrenia and first established as late as 1898 was initially formulated by a German and Swiss psychiatrists namely Kraepelin and Bleuler. “Dementia” means a progressive intellectual deterioration and “praecox” means an early onset. The “dementia” however is not that associated with the ageing process but rather a term which Kraepelin saw as mental enfeeblement. The original major symptoms of schizophrenia according to Kraepelin are “hallucinations, delusions, negativism, attentional difficulties, stereotyped behaviour and emotional dysfunction.” Bleuler broke ranks with Kraepelin on two major points. He did not neccessarily believe that schizophrenia had an early onset and that it did not necessarily head towards dementia. Thus in 1908, Bleuler coined the new name of SCHIZOPHRENIA from the Greek roots of “schizen” meaning to split and “phren” meanng mind. In his opinion, this summed up the essential nature of the condition and it is still called this today.(Bootzin, Acocella, Alloy p365)

Schizophrenic symptoms for most people in Britain today are controlled with the use of psychotropic medication. For the last 26 years I have been under this regime.

But in October 2002 my schizophrenic medication reduction started – under MEDICAL SUPERVISION. At the same time I started to have weekly sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy – plus psychotherapy and counselling.

Now, nearly five years on, I have achieved a 64% medication reduction. This tremendous reduction has only been possible by persevering with my weekly therapy sessions, which have enabled me to cope with the substantial withdrawal symptoms – such as an increase in hearing voices, paranoia and delusional ideas. Simultaneously I am studying for a psychology degree at the University of Bolton which incidentally is funding my therapies as part of my disabled student package. All in all, I have found that these alternative therapies are an excellent replacement for my previous extensive medications. However, I will probably continue to be on a little medication for the rest of my life. I want to stress that such therapies need to be experienced over a number of years in order to be effective. The 12 weeks of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on offer from the British National Health Service I have found to be inadequate. It is not long enough for a single medication reduction i.e. 5mgs. Even the International Pharmaceutical Industry recommends at least 16 weeks for a single medication reduction. So – the British National Health Service needs to greatly increase its provision of these different types of alternative therapies if it wishes to use them as a treatment for schizophrenia.

References:

Bootzin, Acocella & Alloy, Abnormal Psychology Current Perspectives, 6th edition, McGraw-Hill,INC. 1993

Hewitt, R., Moving On: A handbook of good health and recovery, For people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Karnac Publishers. 2007

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Shuresh Patel is a Trustee of the Hearing Voices Network, England