Seung+Woo+SCHIZO

Insulin shock therapy was a form of psychiatric treatment which patients are periodically injected with doses of insulin. Polish psychiatrist Manfred Sakel first introduced insulin shock therapy in 1933 mainly for schizophrenia. Insulin coma therapy and the convulsive therapies were known as shock therapy. Continuous observations and investigations showed results that patients did not recover from shock therapy. Though the treatment no longer exists in USA, it is sometimes used in China and India. In the film //A beautiful mind//, John Nash’s schizophrenia has not fully recovered from his shock therapy treatment. Therefore we can conclude that insulin shock therapy was not a viable clinical treatment. Just like this example, it is conclusive that psychological illness such as schizophrenia does not fully recover; rather, relieves the pain. In the film, John Nash does not seem as an unusual case of schizophrenia. Though John Nash’s was not atypical, he lived in a positive environment for schizophrenia. If all the schizophrenias are able to settle in a positive environment, it would be possible for them to settle in the society normally without taking medical treatments or drugs. To function in society with without medication, it requires a great endurance for a patient to overcome his or her schizophrenia. No matter how many drugs or medication one take in order to overcome illness, the power to surmount schizophrenia really depends on the patient’s will. I believe that if schizophrenic patients are supported by their surroundings to overcome schizophrenia and that the patient acknowledges his or her illness, treatments such as cognitive behavior, would help the patient to function in the society. Though John Nash dealt with schizophrenia for a long time, he eventually surmounted schizophrenia with support and his determination. Insulin shock therapies are painful, yet, they are not effective treatments because most of the times the treatments have no influence on patients with schizophrenia. Researches have found out that the therapies are based on a biased selection of patients, and are unreliable diagnoses. There are dangerous effects in the insulin shock therapy because it could cause hypoglycemic, pathologically low glucose levels. This could cause patients to feel restless, sweaty, and even after shocks. Furthermore, most severe effects of insulin coma therapy included death and brain damage due to irreversible coma. The treatment for schizophrenia has changed dramatically since it was first introduced. The medications have developed and they are quite effective in treating mental illness. Nowadays, drugs have fewer side effects than those from 50 years ago. In addition, patients do not have to worry about permanent muscle/joint rigidity from anti psychotics. Fewer side effects in taking drugs enhance patients to comply with medical regimen. People are no longer put into restraints because from the experiences we have learned that strapping in beds and putting in straight jackets would not help patients except cases when schizophrenias are harming themselves; rather, nowadays, patients rights are taken into consideration. The biggest different is today ’ s use of atypical antipsychotics as opposed to the older typical antipsychotics. The newer, atypical antipsychotics don ’ t completely block the flow of dopamine between the neurons, which means effective treatment with lower, or no risk of Parkinsonism. Furthermore, electroconvulsive therapies are now only used in extremely serious cases.
 * 1.Was insulin shock therapy a viable clinical treatment?**
 * 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?**
 * 3. What are the dangers and/or advantages of this type of treatment (re: insulin shock therapy)?**
 * 4.What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today?**

There are a number of different types of schizophrenia. Paranoid Schizophrenia often experiences feelings of conspiracy or persecution against them. They often experience auditory hallucinations. People with paranoid are more capable to have relationships and work in the society than those of other types of schizophrenia. Paranoid Schizophrenia does not show symptoms, but as one becomes older, the disease starts to manifest noticeably. Another type is called disorganized schizophrenia. People with disorganized schizophrenia suffer from disorganized thoughts. Although they do not suffer from hallucinations, they have hard time mingling with others or have relationships with others. Most of the times, these patients are unstable with any tasks they are up to. Catatonic schizophrenia is another type which involves with movement. Eventually, a patient with catatonic schizophrenia would stop moving and would dislike moving into different places.  I think that catatonic schizophrenia would be the worst case to have because they would have difficulties adjusting to places, and would suffer both catatonic excitement and catatonic stupor, which could be arduous for other ’ s to help because the patient shows unexpected behaviors. On the other hand, paranoid schizophrenia would be the least worst case because the patient would be able to have relationship, and maintain a normal life as others.
 * 5.What are the various types of schizophrenia? Which would you consider the worst case to have? The least worst? Explain why for each.**

Even today, the treatment of schizophrenia remains as a debate since the treatment of schizophrenia is not definite. Rather, the recovery model emphasizes hope and improves the illness. The main psychiatric treatment for schizophrenia is an antipsychotic medication. A new schizophrenia drug, LY219873 is used today to help treat schizophrenia. It targets the glutamate receptors rather than dopamine and has few side effects. Researches show that LY2109823 appear to work as antipsychotics
 * 6.What treatments are being pioneered today for schizophrenia?**