They still haven’t figured out depression.
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That’s a tough one. I’ll go out on a limb and say yes, machine learning and the use of brain scans and blood proteomics and genetic profiles will make this possible in the 5-10 year timescale.
I don’t think it will necessarily be available to everyone and might only be possible in the context of research, but, things are moving fast.
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Depression isn’t necessarily more complicated than psychosis.
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I think the biggest thing that needs to happen to find a cure is to know what causes schizophtenia.
@twinklestars schizophrenia is much more than psychosis.
That’s true but I was responding specifically to the comment on depression.
but what does psychosis have to do here?
I don’t like the usage of the term psychosis interchangeably with schizophrenia.
Is that what you mean?
Psychosis is more or less well managed by APs, we need to move on and really solve schizophrenia
and not just psychosis.
Including the most severe cases of schizophrenia and eliminating the root of the disorder.
@twinklestars
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First I’d like to say that incredible progress has been made with the drugs we do have.
But when it comes to a cure, I’m not sure if you can “cure” brain damage, which is my best guess at what it is. Whether it’s a damage to the way neurotransmitters are produced or the way connections are made sz is most often a life long illnes, and implies that something permanent is going on.
It could be a gene thing too, with a gene getting switched on or off which might have a therapy in the future. But with the diversity of symptoms, I’m inclined to think straight up damage to the mellon
Then you also get to the environmental factors.
I think next 30 years is going to be important for SZ…
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It’s complicated, of course.
Although excess dopamine appears to be a factor in most cases, it’s not clear that it is a factor in treatment resistant sz. So I think that will have to be cleared up. I think it is absolutely possible to measure that with new technologies.
I would say right now we’re treating the psychotic symptoms of sz “OK” not really well, nor really bad. But we aren’t treating the negative or cognitive symptoms much at all.
I think in 10 years we will be in a position where there will still be homeless sz on the streets and people will still be unable to get help for their relative without insight, but for those with insight, the prognosis will be good.
@twinklestars we are also not treating well comorbid sleep problems…
comorbid physical fitness problems…
etc etc.
I don’t like the word prognosis.
A cure is a cure and then there’s no need to think about prognosis.
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You’re not wrong… but there will be those that want help and those that don’t, just like today.
Social changes will move slower than medical ones - also like today.
I think one of the biggest factors in changing the “rule of quarters” or the “rule of thirds” will be involuntary treatment laws. Which will be on the order of generations to pass and implement.
@twinklestars I think a key to changing these rules- is to improve quality of treatment.
A cure is the most desired thing, but even you agree that there are a lot of unmet clinical needs.
I believe we need to help everyone, but let’s starting with developing better treatments and cures.
The first order of business is to develop the cures or the highly effective treatments,
and once this is in place the goal will be to start spreading the treatment to all who need it.
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Yes this is is very important; for the sz who has to comply with involuntary treatment, if it works, that’s a totally different animal than if it doesn’t work.
Time is on the side of science and medical research into schizophrenia. For us however it isn’t feasible to wait too long for a cure unfortunately. Time is a luxury we don’t possess. We have to make use of what medical treatments there are now because our time is limited. Presently, anti-psychotic medicine, peer support and talking therapies, regular health checks and staying socially active improve our chance of stability. The results speak for themselves.
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@thedeepestdream you’re right but there are other options to try!!
Like ECT, rTMS , herbal medicine and other options
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Hi erez those are for treatment resistance sz…herbal have no use …
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As far as stuff you can buy at a health food store or over the Internet, sarcosine, sodium benzoate, fish oil, NAC, vitamin D.
Are you taking any of these yet?
There’s much better evidence for these than herbs.
I took a lot of supplements but I am tired of being a guinea pig. The smart thing is to take one at a time and write notes about it. I did the dumb thing and just took all the ones I liked lol.