Posted by linkadge on February 22, 2005, at 19:24:42
In reply to Drug models of schizophrenia, posted by med_empowered on February 22, 2005, at 17:51:42
Nobody said we had clear cut evidence as to the nature of anything. Infact, anything can be debatable.Here is some truth. The theraputic actions of these drugs were often realized before any purported mechanisms were put into place.
For instance, the actions of the MAOI's were noted far before anyone ever knew what MAO was.
I guess what I am getting at is this. What gives?
What does it matter if we know how these drugs work. It is more about ethics.Sure the drugs aren't reliable all the time. But neither is anything else we have. If we had something that worked better, then we would use it.
Every time I get paranoid about the whole concept of mentall illness (how some propose that it is invented by the drug compaines) I remember our little friend Lithium.
Not only is it effective for bipolar disorder, and some forms of schisophrenia, and depression,
it is not a money maker for "anyone". Does it matter that we don't know the actions of lithium.Of course it doesn't. What matters is that it is robustly neuroprotective, neurotrophic, increases grey matter, antisuicide effect, reducing rehospitalizaction bla bla bla.
It comes down to this. People are suffering. We know that some of these agents (perhaps not all) do have some ability to relieve human suffering. Isn't that enough incentive to continue their use.
It only takes a sane brain a few minautes in conversation with a schitsohrenic to know that they have problems.
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"No study has been able to pinpoint reliable, consistent differences between the brains of "normals" and "sick" individuals"
------------------------------------------Well I guess we havn't been able to "pinpoint" why aspirin relieves certain pain. Should we stop using it alltogether. Its a world of speculation, and in the midst of such profound and immanent suffering, can we afford not to act on certain speculations?
If we believe that these people are geniune in their illness (ie they're not pretending), if it wasn't the brain that mediated this behavior, what mediates it?
Anyone can raise a flag. I at least admire the effort of these scientist to make real and tangable changes in the lives of people who are suffering.
Have you seen the movie, A beautiful Mind? If this was not a "mental illness" what do you propose was at the heart of this man's suffering?
If haldol helps, when vigourous exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate social contact fails, what does it matter?Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:461854
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050222/msgs/461956.html