Sunday, May 3, 2009

USATODAY.com - Mind drugs may hinder recovery

USATODAY.com - Mind drugs may hinder recovery: "Most Americans are unaware that the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly found that long-term schizophrenia outcomes are much worse in the USA and other 'developed' countries than in poor ones such as India and Nigeria, where relatively few patients are on anti-psychotic medications. In 'undeveloped' countries, nearly two-thirds of schizophrenia patients are doing fairly well five years after initial diagnosis; about 40% have basically recovered. But in the USA and other developed countries, most patients become chronically ill. The outcome differences are so marked that WHO concluded that living in a developed country is a 'strong predictor' that a patient never will fully recover"