By Carolyn Susman
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The American Journal of Psychiatry has published two studies representing the most recent findings of the "Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness" (CATIE) funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) concerning the treatment of schizophrenia.
Dr. Ken Duckworth, medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) issued the following on the studies:
"The latest findings provide two important guideposts for doctors and consumers. First, choices exist among medications for schizophrenia. One size does not fit all.
"Second, medication alone is not enough to overcome the illness. Medications reduce symptoms, but no difference exists between medications in moving beyond modest improvement to restoration of interpersonal and community living skills.
"Like earlier CATIE findings, the latest results show that older generation antipsychotic medications remain as effective as newer drugs.
"Choosing medications is a medical decision that must be made on an individual basis. Access to both older and newer generation medications must be preserved in Medicaid and managed care plans, to ensure maximum choice for maximum effectiveness.
"No matter what medication is prescribed, intensive rehabilitation and support services are essential to improve the functioning of people who live with schizophrenia. Those services include family education, permanent supported housing, vocational rehabilitation, and assertive community treatment (ACT) - which traditionally are neglected in our overall system of care.
"Individuals and families living with schizophrenia have known these facts for years. We know counseling and job services are underplayed and underpaid by insurance and public investments."
