Saturday, March 07, 2009 Bianca asks

Q: My close friend is a paranoid schizophrenic with m.p.d and is having a bad episode please help

I have a very close friend who is a delusional paranoid schizophrenic who also suffers from m.p.d, He has been going through a mental episode for about a month and it is getting worse, he is functioning to others and a very good talker n manipulator however this is not the case, He told me that as close as I am the voices in his head are telling him I am the enemy and against him because I want to get him help, he was diagnosed at an early age and was hospitalized and later given thorazine but didnt like the effects so stopped any meds or counseling he did agree to go to la paz and mhmr with me in san antonio to start counseling and try other meds however his current mental episode is getting worse. He has cut out everyone that he knows and informed me that he welcomes the snap and wants the voices to take over and that hes gonna disspaear. I am very worried and scared for his wellbeing, I have noone to turn to, he has no family here and his mother whom he inherited the mpd from lives in dallas, she has stated before that she has no energy for it and that he needs to be commited, he is also a very frequent user of marijuana, cocaine, speed, xtacy , xanax and vicodin thinking they help. I am very scared and its getting worse by the day he has given me the feelings to be worried for his well being . I do not know what my options if any are he has cut me out because he stated that the voices led him to believe that I am making fun of him n his sickness and that is dangerous

Answers (2)

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Christina Bruni

3/ 7/09 10:36am

Hi Bianca,

I empathize with your situation with your friend who doesn't want to get help.

The criteria for admission to a psych ward is that the person is a danger to himself or someone else. I would say he's at least a danger to himself and possibly to others. I would call the local hospital and see what they say when you make the case that he is disintegrating before your eyes. You might even have to magnify the dire situation and exaggerate the danger, because today it is very hard to get someone admitted.

I would also call NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, at (800) 950-NAMI (6264) to find the phone number of the local affiliate in your city or town so that you can also get feedback from other people who have been in your shoes. They could tell you what has worked for them.

As you are aware, his drug abuse isn't helping things and he needs the kind of professional help you can't give him yourself. You could offer to go to a psychiatrist with him, reasoning along the line that he could get relief from his worries. He might not feel he needs help [even though it is obvious to you and probably to others] but it is possible he will seek treatment if he finds a benefit in doing so.

How has his mother handled her own illness? Could she be called on to phone him if he is open to hearing from her?

Again, I would try to get him help as soon as possible, even if that means making the case he is a danger to himself or others. Because absent that criteria, a person often is denied treatment in a hospital until his condition has deteriorated to the point where it can no longer be ignored.

Regards,

Christina