Long story short... I am a very close friend of a 35 year old man with Schizophrenia. He has suffered with the disease since his early twenties. He has been medicated for the last 10 years (Zyprexa, only helped ease suicidal thoughts, but brought on paranoia and delusions of grandeur). This last March, he was finally hospitalized for first time and started on Abilify. This med worked wonders and it was nice to have him stablized and functioning again. However, he stopped taking it and approx. three weeks ago was showing signs of trancelike behavior and talking about the delusions again.
I took him to the psychiatric hospital in my area on 11/15/07 and he is still there. They have started him on Invega (very new anti-psychotic) and Wellbutrin. I visit him almost daily and have noticed no improvement whatsoever. The delusions are in full force and he is unable to take care of his own hygiene.
Also, he entered the hospital voluntarily, but I have since petitioned to have him there involuntarily because he was unwilling to take on a case worker and I don't want him to leave. The hospital will hold him for a maximum of 90 days, and I am currently looking for a long term AFC to take him.
Questions:
The doc insists on continuing the Invega, but I am confused as to why they wouldn't try the Abilify again if it worked so well earlier this year?
Are there any sort of support groups (online or off) that I can get in touch with? This is all new to me (as his mother was dealing with all of this up until a few months ago). It is so heartbreaking and emotionally draining and I would love to have contact with others who have been through or are experiencing the same.
Thank you so much!!
DLC
