Jin+Kwon+Schizo

1. Was insulin shock therapy a viable clinical treatment?

The insulin shock therapy was definitely not a viable treatment for the general public suffering mental disorders. One reason was the negative impact on mental performance and in general, memory. John Nash went into a coma as a result of taking insulin shock therapy; it proved to be a very fatal mistake. In addition, insulin shock therapy proved to be not only detrimental to one’s mental performance, but also inflicted pain and danger.

2. Was John Nash an unusual case, or do you think that many schizophrenic patients can be taught to function in society with without medication?

I believe John Nash was an unusual case indeed. He excelled in fitting into society and performing well with other members. To me that seems to both very fortunate and peculiar. Normal schizophrenic patients would have difficulties fitting into society due to their symptoms and behavior. But Nash succeeded in doing what almost no schizophrenic could’ve. When it comes to questioning the capabilities of schizophrenic patients fitting into society in general, many questions arise yet my opinion stands. I believe that that patients that suffer from schizophrenia must first of all realize that they can trust people around them and therefore trust members of society to listen to their stories. Second, they must be accepted into society and be more communicative with different people. This will hopefully replace the voices that schizophrenic hear, with voices of real people and signals that can apply to real life.

3. What are the dangers and/or advantages of this type of treatment (re: insulin shock therapy)?

As discussed above, insulin shock therapy will result in unfortunate consequences for any patient that undergoes such therapy. Patients who are treated with insulin shock therapy will lose their mental efficiency and memory in general. It is a very costly thing for schizophrenic patients, and thus today it has been acknowledged.

4. What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today?

There was a major difference between the methods of treating schizophrenia in 1960-70s compared to today. Back in the 1960-70s, the primary method used to cure schizophrenia was insulin shock therapy, more generally anti-psychotic drugs that would ultimately provide independence and action to the mentally ill. Unfortunately, insulin shock therapy proved to contain many costs and disadvantages. After scientists and doctors acknowledged this fact, they approached a new way of treating schizophrenic patients. Today the common method that was made as a result of the failures of insulin shock therapy is basically simple therapy and medication, for it provides more security and less drastic measures.

5. What are the various types of schizophrenia? Which would you consider the worst case to have? The least worst? Explain why for each.

There are various types of schizophrenia, some include paranoid, residual, undifferentiated, catatonic, and disorganized. To my personal belief, I believe undifferentiated schizophrenia is the worst case to have, primarily because it is so capricious and unknown. Patients who suffer from this kind of illness would be the hardest to treat due to the fact that this type of schizophrenia does not provide a straight path towards a cure. Since the type of schizophrenia itself doesn’t allow you distinguish which type of illness he/she has, but instead all mixed together, it gives the doctor/therapist a much more difficult to ask. The worst type of schizophrenia would probably be catatonic. Despite the fact that the symptoms do sound very threatening and potentially very dangerous, in the world we live in today, keeping constraints on patients should be the smallest of problems.

6. What treatments are being pioneered today for schizophrenia?

Pioneers in the fields of psychology and mental science are attempting to basically make treatments that will lessen the voices that are often heard in the minds of schizophrenic patients. Such of the already made treatments include various types of medication, such as antipsychotic drugs.