Important Warning: The
following web page is provided for information purposes only. It covers
possible complementary treatment approaches that may be used in concert
with antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medications. The adoption of any of
these complementary treatments should be done with a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist's
knowledge and approval as part of a person's complete treatment plan. This summary of possible complementary treatments is for informational purposes only.
Personal Therapy and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) - Personal Therapy is a psychosocial intervention designed to help patients with schizophrenia recognize and respond appropriately to arousing stimuli improves function and reduces relapse. Personal therapy, as it is called, aims to create a therapeutic umbrella to protect the patients from undue personal stress. Recent studies have suggested that over the long haul, individual psychotherapy tailored to strengthen interpersonal skills and control social stress markedly helps many people suffering from the disorder.
This new form of schizophrenia treatment has resulted in lower relapse rates and progressively better social functioning over 3 years, at least for people able to live with family members and meet basic survival needs, contend social worker Gerard E. Hogarty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and his colleagues.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been judged by the Cochrane review as potentially positive for people with schizophrenia, stating that evidence suggests " that it [CBT] may well be of value, at least in the short term. Cognitive behavioural therapy should be further evaluated in various clinical settings and comparing effects for both expert and less skilled practitioners." Source; Cochrane Review
Family therapy and assertive community treatment have clear effects on the prevention of psychotic relapse and rehospitalization. However, these treatments have no consistent effects on other outcome measures (e.g., pervasive positive and negative symptoms, overall social functioning, and ability to obtain competitive employment). Social skills training improves social skills but has no clear effects on relapse prevention, psychopathology, or employment status. Supportive employment programs that use the place-and-train vocational model have important effects on obtaining competitive employment. Some studies have shown improvements in delusions and hallucinations following cognitive behavior therapy. Preliminary research indicates that personal therapy may improve social functioning.
Research suggests that relatively simple, long-term psychoeducational family therapy should be available to the majority of persons suffering from schizophrenia. Assertive community training programs ought to be offered to patients with frequent relapses and hospitalizations, especially if they have limited family support. Patients with schizophrenia can clearly improve their social competence with social skills training, which may translate into a more adaptive functioning in the community. For patients interested in working, rapid placement with ongoing support offers the best opportunity for maintaining a regular job in the community. Cognitive behavior therapy may benefit the large number of patients who continue to experience disabling psychotic symptoms despite optimal pharmacological treatment. (Source - psychosocial treatment, 2001 - see below)
Glycine (an amino acid sold as a dietary supplement) has been a
subject of research for over 15 years as a potential treatment for
the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Only a handful of human
clinical trials with fewer than 50 people in each trial, have been
completed (though one trial with 150 people has recently completed
and has not yet been published). The trials published to date
are reporting that the results have been quite positive, showing
a significant reduction (averaging around 24%) in negative and cognitive
symptoms based on the PANSS (Positive and Negative Schizophrenia
Symptoms) scale. The clinical trials have shown that Glycine did
not help people who are taking Clozapine, but it did help (in reducing
negative symptoms) in people who were taking risperidone (Risperdal),
and olanzapine (Zyprexa). The clinical trials suggest that the optimal
dosage may be in the range of 30 grams to 60 grams a day. The biggest
downside to taking glycine seems to be upset stomach and nausea
which, researchers tell us, is quite common in people who take 60
grams of glycine a day for a month or two. Approaches used by the
researchers to minimize this problem have been to start at lower
doses (e.g. 5 to 10 grams split into two doses per day) and then
to slowly phase up to higher doses over a period of weeks. Also
- taking it after meals may assist in reducing side effects.
One hypothesis of schizophrenia pathology suggests that NMDA-receptor
disfunction (a special kind of glutamate receptor in the brain)
may contribute to disordered synapses and brain atrophy, which ultimately
result in the visible symptoms. Glycine may turn out to be a very
beneficial supplemental treatment (when added to standard antipsychotic
medications) for some people with schizophrenia. We hope to see
longer and larger trials for glycine supplemental treatments. Talk
with your doctor if you think you may benefit (review the report
below for information on what glycine does and who it might help).
See special report below for more information:
ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy)
Research suggests that Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has a modest
but definite role to play in the treatment of schizophrenia despite
the adverse publicity it has received. . In European countries it
has been used more widely for the treatment of schizophrenia than
in the United States.
Antioxidant Vitamins -
Researchers have found a positive correlation between superoxide generation
and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, indicating a possible
role for oxidative stress in the development of the disease (and the
potential for antioxidants to help in decreasing the risk or severity
of the disease). "There are several lines of evidence to support
the contribution of oxygen free radicals in schizophrenia, including
increased lipid peroxidation, fatty acids, and alterations in blood
levels of antioxidant enzymes," note Pinkhas Sirota (Tel Aviv
University, Israel) and colleagues, in a recent research paper.
Higher than normal intake of foods known to have a high content
of antioxidants, as well as supplements of high antioxidant vitamins
(Alpha
Lipoic Acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin C) may have some beneficial
impact on the incidence and progression of the disease - anecdotal
evidence suggests as much as 5% to 10% improvement for some individuals.
Foods high in antioxidants include blue berries (frozen or fresh),
dried plums, spinach and strawberries.
Note - one must be particularly careful in purchasing vitamin supplements
because it is an entirely unregulated industry and many less than reputable
organizations sell products that do not actually contain the specified
doses. We recommend that any source you choose have a certified "GMP" (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification and
approval. (Look for the GMP stamp on the label. Also, Look for products
that have a 'UPS' (United States Pharmacopeia) stamp on the label.
One reliable provider we are familiar in the USA and that we've had
good experiences with is the Internet-store www.iherb.com - and specifically products from the "NOW
Foods" company. Other leading companies that are known to have
good manufacturing quality processes include Twinlab. We have no affiliation
with either of these organizations.
(Please note that there are no studies the schizophrenia researchers
we are in contact with are aware of that support the idea that
any type of vitamin or fatty acid (EFA) will cure schizophrenia. There
are currently no cures for schizophrenia.)
Vitamin E and other Antioxidants (for Tardive
Dyskinesia) - Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused
by the long-term use of neuroleptic drugs - especially the older
"typical" medications. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized
by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Features of the
disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering
and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms,
legs, and body may also occur. Impaired movements of the fingers may
appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano.
There is no standard treatment for tardive dyskinesia. Treatment is
highly individualized. The first step is generally to stop or minimize
the use of the neuroleptic drug. However, for patients with a severe
underlying condition this may not be a feasible option. Replacing
the neuroleptic drug with substitute drugs may help some patients.
Other drugs such as benzodiazepines, adrenergic antagonists, and dopamine
agonists may also be beneficial.
In the last 10 years, preclinical studies of the administration of
antipsychotics to animals, as well as clinical studies of oxidative
processes in patients given antipsychotic medications, with and without
tardive dyskinesia, have continued to support the possibility that
neurotoxic free radical production may be an important consequence
of antipsychotic treatment, and that such production may relate to
the development of dyskinetic phenomena. In line with this hypothesis,
evidence has accumulated for the efficacy of antioxidants, primarily
vitamin E (mixed-tocopherols), in the treatment and prevention of
tardive dyskinesia. Early studies suggested a modest effect of vitamin
E treatment on existing tardive dyskinesia, but later studies did
not demonstrate a significant effect.
Because evidence has continued to accumulate for increased oxidative
damage from antipsychotic medications, but less so for the effectiveness
of vitamin E, especially in cases of long-standing tardive dyskinesia,
alternative antioxidant approaches to the condition may be warranted.
These approaches may include the use of antioxidants as a preventive
measure for tardive dyskinesia or the use of other antioxidants (for
example Alpha
Lipoic Acid) or neuroprotective drugs, such as melatonin, for
established tardive dyskinesia.
In schizophrenia.com's discussions with NIMH researchers it has been
suggested that up to 1,600 mg/day of vitamin E is safe for most people,
and up to 600 to 1200 mg/day of Alpha Lipoic Acid is also a safe maximum
dosage. We recommend you discuss these antioxidant plans with your
physician and psychiatrists before beginning any vitamin program because
of the potential for there to be negative interactions between different
drugs and vitamins (though the chances of this in general appear low).
EPA Omega-3 Fish Oils - While the research is somewhat conflicting (some positive studies, some negative studies) there is some early scientific research that suggests that people that have schizophrenia may benefit by a reduction in symptoms when they take fish oil capsules that are high in the EPA (a type of Omega-3 fatty acid) form of oil. If you do try fish oil, it is important to be careful about the type of fish oil you are using - because not all fish oils are effective. The researchers at the University of Scheffield tell us that "What people really need to be looking at is the amount of EPA in the fish oil they are buying. Our data from previous studies suggests that DHA is of little use in the treatment of schizophrenia but EPA is the substance that yield the best results. Dosage wise it is suggested that about 2,000 mg/day to 4,000 mg/day ( 2 to 4 grams/day) should help."
A research review article from Cochrane Review suggested that "The use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for schizophrenia remains experimental and large well designed, conducted and reported studies are indicated and needed."
Some of our community members have have had good luck with the Now Foods "Super EPA" and "MaxEPA" vitamins purchased from iherb.com - but we encourage you to shop around for the best deal for you. We must be particularly careful in purchasing vitamin supplements because it is an entirely unregulated industry and many less than reputable organizations sell products that do not actually contain the specified doses or have other ingredients - this seems like a particular problem with vitamins coming from Canada. We recommend that any source you choose have a certified "GMP" (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification and approval. (Look for the GMP stamp on the label). Also, Look for products that have a 'UPS' (United States Pharmacopeia) stamp on the label
(Please note that there are no studies that the schizophrenia researchers we are in contact with are aware of that support the idea that any type of vitamin or fatty acid (EFA) will cure schizophrenia. There are currently no cures for schizophrenia.)
Treatments being Researched that are Showing
some Early Positive Results
N-methylglycine (also called Sarcosine)
One hypothesis of schizophrenia pathology suggests that NMDA-receptor
disfunction (a special kind of glutamate receptor in the brain)
may contribute to disordered synapses and brain atrophy, which
ultimately result in the visible symptoms. Glycine (or glycine-like
supplements such as Sarcosine) may turn out to be a very beneficial
supplemental treatment (when added to standard antipsychotic medications)
for some people with schizophrenia.
In a recent (2004) Harvard Medical School study with consumers
who suffer from schizophrenia it was revealed that patients who
received N-methylglycine (sarcosine) treatment had significant
(on the order of 10 to 15%) improvements in their positive, negative,
cognitive, and general psychiatric symptoms. This looks very promising,
but the research needs to be duplicated with some larger sample
groups of people. N-methyl glycine (Sarcosine) is apparently a
amino acid. We'll report
more on this potential treatment as more new trial results are published.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Research has shown that pets (dogs and cats) may offer a low cost,
yet helpful type of therapy for people with schizophrenia. What the
researchers call "Animal-assisted Therapy" has been shown
to encourage mobility, interpersonal contact, and communication and
reinforced activities of daily living, including personal hygiene
and independent self-care.
We could only find a single study on this topic - so it remains to
be seen if this approach to therapy proves effective in larger, more
rigorous studies. It seems that a calm and friendly dog (not a puppy
that requires a lot of attention) could provide good companionship
for people who have schizophrenia and don't socialize much.
Gluten FreeDiet for Schizophrenia
Some research has shown that people with celiac disease, a genetic
gluten (a type of protein found in wheat and other grains) intolerance
have up to a 300% increased risk for developing schizophrenia. While
the percentage of people that this impacts is small (less than 3%
of people that have schizophrenia are estimated to have this intolerance),
a wheat-free diet is theorized as potentially being helpful for
these people.
Trancranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- There's preliminary evidence that TMS offers a less drastic alternative
to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the treatment of last resort for
people with severe depression. At the same time, investigators acknowledge
that there's much they don't know about how TMS affects the brain.
Researchers propose that TMS may help treat schizophrenia, a brain
disorder for which few effective drugs exist.
In the March 25, 2003 Lancet, investigators at the Yale University
School of Medicine, report that repetative TMS (also called "rTMS",
significantly reduced auditory hallucinations experienced by a dozen
people with schizophrenia.
The hallucinations, usually perceived as voices in the head, afflict
50 to 70 percent of such people and are often difficult to eliminate
with antipsychotic drugs. "These voices can be very disruptive
and produce some really bad consequences," noted study leader
Ralph E. Hoffman.
Brain scans of people with schizophrenia suffering auditory hallucinations
have revealed abnormal activity in a speech-related brain region—the
left temporal parietal cortex. Scientists suspect, says Hoffman, that
"these auditory hallucinations arise from parts of the brain
that are ordinarily involved with processing spoken speech."
To test that theory, Hoffman and his colleagues directed magnetic
pulses at the left temporal parietal cortex of schizophrenia patients
for up to 16 minutes daily for 4 days.
In most cases, the severity and frequency of auditory hallucinations
decreased more with the real TMS treatment than with sham applications.
In one person, the improvement lasted 2 months.
Music Therapy - Music therapy is a type
of psychotherapy in which the patient is encouraged to utilize music
to improve interpersonal and communication skills in ways that regular
dialogue is limited. Forms of music therapy generally are based around
cognitive/behavioral, humanistic or psychoanalytic frameworks or a mixture
of approaches. There are usually both active and receptive parts of
the therapy, meaning that at times music is listened to and at other
times there is the use of musical improvisation or creation. There have
not been many studies on music therapy and schizophrenia, but the Cochrane
review looked at the data available for a recent review.
There were 4 studies included in the review. These studies looked at
short term benefits of music therapy when used in addition to more conventional
pharmaceutical treatments. The authors combined the results of these
4 studies in a “meta-analysis” meaning that the studies were similar
enough that the data could be combined and form a larger sample. The
number of sessions used in these studies varied from 7 to 75 and the
length of time studied ranged up to 3 months duration.
The results were encouraging. In one study, it was shown that the global
state in the short term was frequently improved. Using a statistic called
“number needed to treat (NNT)” it was described that to show an improvement
in one patient, you only needed to put two patients through the therapy.
(This compares with NNT in many situations of several hundred patients
needed to be given a treatment in order to notice benefits in one person.)
It was shown that the number of sessions had a direct impact on the
success of the treatment with more sessions being better.
It was also seen that active participation was better than a more passive
approach to treatment. However, the length of treatment in theses studies
was short and the benefit in the long term was unknown.
Tharyan P, Adams C. Electroconvulsive therapy for schizophrenia. Cochrane
Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr 18;(2):CD000076.
Click here for article 1 on PubMed
Gold C, Heldal T, Dahle T, Wigram T. Music therapy for schizophrenia
or schizophrenia-like illnesses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr
18;(2):CD004025. Click
here for article 2 on PubMed
Simpling listening to music listening may also, however, be useful
as a means of relaxation or group discussion stimulus. A medical
review article (April 2005) has indicated that music therapy may
be beneficial for people already on a standard treatment for schizophrenia.
Music therapy should in no way replace a standard treatment regimen.
Future research may reveal more positive results.
In January, 2006 The Cochrane Review (a leading medical publisher) published a review article of all the studies that have been done so far on chinese herbal medicine use in treatment for schizophrenia. In their review article they stated:
"Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, for more than 2000 years. Chinese herbs may also have antipsychotic properties when used in a Western biomedical context. In this review we sought and found trials relevant to the effects of both approaches for schizophrenia. Traditional Chinese medicine methodology has been evaluated for schizophrenia, but the one included study was too limited in terms of sample size and study length to guide good practice. However, this pioneering study does show that TCM can be evaluated for its efficacy for people with schizophrenia , and should encourage trialists to undertake further, more comprehensive trials in this area.
The use of Chinese herbs in a Western medicine context, without incorporating TCM methodology, has been evaluated in six trials, although again these are limited by their sample size and study length. The results of these six trials suggest that using Chinese herbs alone for psychotic symptoms may not be indicated, but if used in conjunction with Western antipsychotic drugs, they may be beneficial in terms of mental state, global functioning and decrease of adverse effects. However, further trials are needed before the effects of TCM for people with schizophrenia can be evaluated with any real confidence."
Stem Cell-Based Therapies - In 2003, researchers
from the University of Illinois Department of Psychiatry stated that
"The use of stem cells for neuroreplacement therapy is no longer
science fiction--it is science fact. We have succeeded in the development
of neural and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to produce neural
cells in the brain. We have seen the improvement of cognitive function
in a memory-impaired aged animal model following stem cell transplantation.
These results may promise a bright future for stem cell strategies.
"
Right now, stem cell research is showing the most promise for treating
certain kinds of brain disease (for example, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's)
in which discrete populations of neurons are dying. Stem cell research
also looks promising for therapies in other areas - diabetes, sickle
cell anemia, spinal-cord injury, heart disease, vision and hearing
loss are among the diseases being examined for stem cell therapies.
Because we are still at a very rudimentary understanding of what goes
wrong in the brains of people with schizophrenia,
it is unlikely at this point that stem cell research will provide
a therapy. Schizophrenia does not seem to be caused by a problem in
neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells); instead, it appears
that brain cells are present in correct numbers and places, but are
not sending the right sorts of signals at the right times. The brain
matter loss shown in schizophrenia is a loss of neuron axons and
dendrites - the long processes that neurons use to send signals -
rather than a loss of the neuron cell bodies themselves.
There was a suggestion at one point that schizophrenia might be caused
by a deficiency in reelin, a protein
that helps new brain cells know where to migrate. Although this is
still being investigated, the deficiency has only shown in postmortem
brains of people with schizophrenia - thus, it is impossibel to tell
whether reelin deficiency is a cause or a consequence of the disease.
According to Dr. Arnold Kriegstein (MD, PHD) of the Dept. of Neurology
and the Director of Development and Stem Cell Biology Program at UCSF,
we may be able to find a creative way to use stem cells for schizophrenia
once the pathophysiology of the disorder is better understood. He
believes that reelin is probably not the issue - that differentiation
of cells, not migration, is more likely at the root of the problem.
(Source: lecture given at UCSF on stem cell research, June 2005).
Probably a more likely role for stem cells in the realm of schizophrenia
is in researching the cause of the disorder.
In 2001, President Bush halted a National Institutes of Health plan
to fund research on embryonic stem cells. Key supporters of the administration
believed that the research immorally destroys early human life. The
cells are extracted from days-old embryos created in fertility laboratories,
consisting of about 150 cells, that are together smaller than this
"." at the end of this sentence. Excess embryonic stem cells
are regularly discarded from human fertility clinics when they are
no longer needed.
(Photo of a microscopic view of a colony of undifferentiated
human embryonic stem cells)
In 2001, the US House of Representatives had passed a bill that
criminalized reproductive cloning, or making cloned babies. But
it also targeted creating cloned human embryos in the laboratory.
Many scientists believe such methods are potentially important in
stem-cell research; for instance, as a way to create customized
stem cells bearing the DNA of living individuals.
Currently there is very little embryonic stem cell research taking
place in the US due to the Bush Administration's regulations. (Update
- California has recently started a $3 Billion, 10 year research
effort to find medical cures based on embrionic stem cells so there
is much more hope for treatments now).
If you believe that a potential cure for chronic diseases, and
research into the causes of many others, is worth diverting some
of the thousands of embryonic stem cells from the fertility clinic
garbage cans to University researchers working on cures for these
diseases, please support therapeutic embryonic stem cell cloning
(duplicating) and research.
Discredited or Disproved or Over-marketed "treatments"
for Schizophrenia
EM power+ (Empowerplus) by Synergy,
or Truehope Nutritional Support
EM power+ (also referred to as Empowerplus) is a vitamin and
mineral product that was formulated by two lay people (i.e. non-scientists)
in Alberta, Canada as a supposed cure for various psychiatric
conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The product
contains 36 different ingredients and was originally made by a
lab in Utah but is now apparently made by another lab in California
and with a different formula than the original product but has
the same name.
The company, called Synergy or Truehope Nutritional Support, claims
that there is considerable research to back up their claims but
the early research at the University of Calgary was very preliminary
(one short study with only 11 people - see information below) and the clinical trial that was begun
at Calgary was halted by Canadian government officials as the
product was not approved. In fact, the Canadian government has
issued a health hazard warning informing people not to use the
product because it has not been proven safe and because the company
is encouraging people to go off prescribed medications.
The Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP) in the US felt
that the research into this product that was also being done at
the University of Utah did not have sufficient benefit to outweigh
the risks. The OHRP also found that no research was being conducted
on this product at Harvard. Another group is working on a class
action lawsuit against Truehope and the company is now facing
six additional charges by the Canadian government related to unproven
claims that the company has made. We believe that these products
are still freely sold in the USA because there are few laws regulating
sale of "supplements" in the USA. In July, 2006 some of the charges by the government of Canada were dismissed in the courts - but we do not know if all the lawsuits are dismissed.
A recent (July, 2004) news article from Canada suggested that:
"An Alberta health food company (Truehope) that claims to
have a cure for mental illnessesis facing six charges under the
Food and Drugs Act for allegedly importing and selling its product
without government approval.
The charges come nearly a year after RCMP and Health Canada raided
the Raymond main office of Truehope Nutritional Support Ltd.
Truehope, along with its related company Synergy Group of Canada
Inc., markets a nutritional supplement called Empowerplus that
it believes can cure a variety of mental illnesses such as bipolar
disorder.
But Canadian law forbids companies from making health claims
about its products without first compiling a certain amount of
scientific proof to back them up, and Health Canada says Synergy
has not yet met those standards.
Empowerplus is an amalgam of about 36 vitamins, minerals and
anti-oxidants, many of which are commonly sold over the counter.
(Note: the product sells for up to $300+ per month -- depending upon dosage -- making it one
of the world's most expensive mix of common vitamins.)
Health Canada issued an advisory June 6, 2003, warning people
not to take Empowerplus because it could put their health at risk."
If you've been tempted to consider this product we encourage
you to read up on the history of the product and company, compare
prices for other vitamin pills (see information above), talk with
your psychiatrist and make your own fully-informed decision.
In our opinion this product is unproven, with
risks and costs that currently outweigh possible benefits. In
fact we agree with Dr. Philip Long's assesment of the product:
"This commercial group (TrueHope/Synergy) has claimed
to have discovered a vitamin mixture that has "totally
resolved Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression, Autism,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia" (quoting from
a brochure I received in Vancouver advertising their lecture
at Douglas College). These false claims of miraculous cures
are a medical fraud - period."
"Think about it - if there was a vitamin mixture that
cured Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Autism etc. - why wouldn't
the recipe for this major discovery just be posted on the Internet
so all could benefit. EM Power is just a mixture of commonly
used vitamins and minerals that anyone can buy at a local health
foods store. Why the big secret? Why won't EM Power publish
what is in their vitamin mixture? You know the answer - money.
EM Power is a typical medical scam promising miracle cures.
This isn't the first, and it won't be the last, of medical frauds
that use naive individuals, like Dr. Kaplan, to promote a totally
bogus miracle cure for mental illness."
The product is, in our opinion, burdened by excessively positive
marketing claims (it is our belief that any claims that a product
is a "cure for schizophrenia" need large, duplicated
research studies done by independent research organizations (i.e. Universities) otherwise
they are just marketing hype and something to be avoided.) Given
the minimal testing the Empowerplus product has received, as well
as by lack of information (the company won't reveal what is in
the product) and very high costs - we've seen estimates that monthly
costs we've seen can range from $60 to $400+ Canadian $ for a vitamin mix
that would likely cost only a couple of dollars if purchased independently)
- suggesting gross profit margins for the TrueHope "Nonprofit" in the 95% or higher range - which, if not illegal, certainly
is (in our view) of questionable ethics for a company/nonprofit
(they seem to have a bit of both) that claims to be focused on
helping mentally ill people. For more
information and research on Empowerplus, as well as expert opinions,
see:
Even Dr. Hoffer - a strong supporter of vitamins use in the
treatment of schizophrenia, states that any advice that a psych
patient should go off his meds "should be condemned".
Niacin and Nicotinic Acid - the marketing
of niacin (also known as vitamin B3 and Nicotinic Acid) as a "cure"
for schizophrenia began over 30 years ago by Dr. Abraham Hoffer.
In what must surely be classified as one of the most "optimistic"
viewpoints ever to hit the field of schizophrenia Dr. Hoffer continues
to push this approach despite significant amounts of research to
the contrary. We believe that this is a very good reason to be skeptical
when anyone claims any cure for schizophrenia. When a cure is finally
discovered for schizophrenia, you should expect to see it on the
covers of every major newspaper and magazine in the world. Dr. Irwin
David Irwin of Vancouver, Canada summarizes the current view of
Dr. Hoffers Theories - which even now still gets covered in newspapers
and public forums - in this statement in a letter to the Editor
of the Vancouver Sun newspaper:
"At a time of real progress in treatment of schizophrenia,
Dr. DeMarco has written about an approach which Dr. Abram Hoffer
and others developed in the 1950s, but which by the 1970s was
proven to be fruitless. The work of Dr. Hoffer and others is discussed
in detail in the American Psychiatric Association Task Force Report,
July 1973, which points out methodological flaws in the early
work and reviews later studies which failed to show any benefit
for such treatments.
In recent years, new medicines, with improved side-effect profiles
and techniques to overcome problems with social and occupational
functioning, have been well proven advances for the treatment
of schizophrenia. Early intervention programs should prevent some
of the serious dysfunction of the disease.
Serious illnesses like schizophrenia require proven treatments.
Vitamin treatments as "alternative" therapy for schizophrenia
should not be recommended.
David Irwin, MD
Department of Psychiatry
Vancouver General Hospital
Source: The Vancouver Sun, January 23, 1998 "
Acupuncture - Acupuncture has been used to treat mental health disorders, including
schizophrenia, for more than 2000 years. However, in an analysis by the Cochrane Review (the leading medical review publisher) in early 2006 it was determined that there is:
"insufficient evidence to recommend the use of acupuncture for people with
schizophrenia. The numbers of participants and the blinding of acupuncture were
both inadequate, and more comprehensive and better designed studies are needed
to determine the effects of acupuncture for schizophrenia."
Vitamin B6 - Vitamin B6 has also in the past
been claimed to be a "cure" for schizophrenia (wrongly,
as the data below indicates). As you should expect by now - if anyone
makes any claims about a cure for schizophrenia - ask for some 3rd
party validation studies from the major schizophrenia research centers
around the world.
Mega-Vitamin Therapies - Mega-dose Vitamins
(very large - i.e. 200%+ of RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowances) of
vitamins have also been marketed as a "cure" for schizophrenia
in the past. Again - research has proved this claim innacurate many
years ago. As you should expect by now - if anyone makes any claims
about a cure for schizophrenia - ask for some 3rd party validation
studies from the major schizophrenia university research centers around
the world.
The Cochrane Review (a leading medical review publication) has this to say about Art Therapy for Schizophrenia.
"The British Association of Art Therapists definition of Art Therapy is "the use of art materials for self-expression and reflection in the presence of a trained art therapist. Clients who are referred to art therapy need not have previous experience or skill in art, the art therapist is not primarily concerned with making an aesthetic or diagnostic assessment of the client's image. The overall aim of its practitioners is to enable a client to effect change and growth on a personal level through the use of art materials in a safe and facilitating environment." It has proved to be difficult to estimate how widely this intervention is available. However, there are descriptions of its use with people with schizophrenia, individually and in groups, in inpatient and outpatient settings as well as in the private sector.
Unfortunately we only found two randomised controlled trials that studied the use of art therapy for people with schizophrenia. Both studies did not include enough participants to make the results meaningful and we were unable to draw clear conclusions regarding the benefits or harms of art therapy from these studies. More research is needed to determine the value of art therapy in this population."
Early
Schizophrenia Screening Test 
