Health Expert Christina Bruni shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/120/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/120/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/120/index http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/153321/schizophrenia Sun, 27 May 2012 08:50:00 -0400 Christina Bruni A new study that examined more than 50 years worth of data found antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia patients can reduce the risk of relapse by 60 percent.   The study revealed that these patients who are compliant with their medication are significantly less likely to be hospitalized and may have a better quality of life than individuals who do not take their medication.   The trials in the studies, observed from 1959 and... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/153321/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/153120/schizophrenia Sat, 19 May 2012 15:01:00 -0400 Christina Bruni This SharePost continues the focus on schizophrenia medication in greater detail.  It will list the numerous reasons a person might not want to take medication and effective strategies for finding the right doctor to treat you.   An estimated 40 to 90 percent of patients with schizophrenia don't take their medication as prescribed. [Morra-Carlisle, M. (2012, spring).  Following the doctor's orders: compliance is the surest way to... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/153120/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152845/schizophrenia Thu, 10 May 2012 08:53:00 -0400 Christina Bruni I aim to be a rational voice on emotional topics. I'm going to create a three-part "carnival" of SharePosts about schizophrenia medication. The first news article will be a general overview. Part two will talk about the reasons people have for not taking medication and how to find a good psychiatrist to get the right treatment. Part three will detail the risks of partial compliance as well as the perils of going cold.   The best minds of... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152845/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152618/awareness Wed, 02 May 2012 21:37:00 -0400 Christina Bruni Vinny Guadagnino from Jersey Shore, Reality TV's Hottest Celeb, has General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and his new book, Control the Crazy, gives his proven, step-by-step program for calming your anxious mind. He is not just another fist-pump guido; he's a true renaissance man of the modern era. He's an artist who draws and paints. The tattoo on his chest reads: Let Go, Let God. He practices yoga. As May is National Mental Health Awareness Month,... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152618/awareness http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152357/schizophrenia Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:58:00 -0400 Christina Bruni This last SharePost of the month will talk about schizophrenia and relationships.   In the fall of 2007, when I first started working here, I interviewed Jim, the founder of NoLongerLonely, an Internet dating service for people diagnosed with mental illnesses.  Since then, TrueAcceptance also offers the chance to be matched.  Read my NoLongerLonely Interview here. The two online dating sites operate on the premise that because... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152357/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152061/schizophrenia Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:04:00 -0400 Christina Bruni The journal PLoS Medicine in 2010 reported on a research review that showed in numerous studies individuals with poor social connections had 50 percent higher odds of mortality in the study's follow-up period (an average of 7.5 years) than those with hearty social lives.    The review tracked more than 300,000 women and men worldwide.  The mortality risk for those with slim connections was larger than the risk of death from a lack... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/152061/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151869/schizophrenia Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:10:00 -0400 Christina Bruni The topic will be negative symptoms of schizophrenia, called this because they take away from or reduce functioning. Negative symptoms involve lack of motivation, social withdrawal, blunt affect, and alogia (poverty of speech or poverty of content of speech) and diminished movement.   Positive symptoms such as delusions, paranoia and hallucinations can mostly be managed and are often the focus of treatment sessions. Yet the negative... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151869/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151547/schizophrenia Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:52:00 -0400 Christina Bruni Two of the original Top 50 themes searched on at HealthCentral's schizophrenia community site were the questions posed as to whether stigma has gotten better over the years and are people with schizophrenia violent.  I wanted to tackle these twin evergreen topics again in light of the recent news.   The root of stigma lies in the dictionary.  The Oxford American College Dictionary defines crazy thus: "Mentally deranged, esp. as... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151547/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151307/schizophrenia Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:01:00 -0400 Christina Bruni As spring nears, I wanted to write a SharePost about spring cleaning with links to other articles I've written here before. I also wrote a column for SZ magazine on the topic. There, I noted how as I got better in my recovery, my closet reflected my mood and my health. In my late thirties, I tossed out all the clothes that signaled I was at odds with myself. I dressed in a trendy way when I had the breakdown: I dressed all in black in my... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151307/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151110/schizophrenia Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:56:00 -0400 Christina Bruni I want to revisit the topic of schizophrenia in our older years. At the end of this SharePost, I'll link to detailed information on the topic. Most accounts define middle age as between 45 and 60. Does it get better as we move forward in our recovery? I'll be 47 in April so I hope it does. I'm on the cusp of middle age. One thing that determines how well a person will fare is how quickly he's treated after first exhibiting symptoms and whether... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/151110/schizophrenia