Antipsychotics cause reversible structural brain changes within one week -

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Yes, they are very dangerous drugs and should never be forced on anyone

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They were forced on me and saved my life.

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You wouldn’t have taken them if you weren’t forced?

No I wouldn’t have. And I’d be dead now.

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Hmm well I still think CTOs with forced injection medication in the community should be banned, it’s barbaric imo

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What’s the alternative though? People who lose insight can be dangerous - to both oneself and others sometimes too

If they become a danger to others or themselves then medication can be forced, however if this has never happened it should not be forced

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I’m thankful for my meds.

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Also just to be clear, the article says “reversible” not “irreversible” changes.

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In the US they can’t force you without a court ruling.

In UK they can, I hate it here

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not all changes is bad its part of its therapeutic effect

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I agree. The first time ok it could be forced if truly necessary. But after give the patient their rights, obligations, the dangers of taking and not taking medication. and ask them how they want to be treated if they have a psychosis again.

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That is so not true. Hospitals can do pretty much whatever they want while you are there. I was picked up a couple states away in Ohio, and put in a hospital and they gave me Haldol several weeks before I had any court hearing. I was held down by multiple people and given the injection.

They may not be able to do it long term, but in the short term they can do pretty much whatever they want, despite the myth of no forced treatment.

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and all I did was argue with a nurse about something. When they forced my injection I was sitting peacefully reading. It still pisses me off slightly. But it was done.

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I mean long term outside but yes you are correct. Once you’re in their “grasp” not much you can do.

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I think it is important to note the change they found

We found increased MRI volume estimates in the left putamen and in the right caudate in the amisulpride condition as compared to placebo and increased right putamen volume estimates after aripiprazole compared to placebo. No other effects were found

That is a good thing. It is saying the medicine increases gray matter in parts of the brain associated with goal-directed action and understanding cause and effect. Those are things you want more gray matter for.

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Hard to believe when APs for me seemed to really mess up my reward centres