Can anything slow or stop the progression of brain damage in schizophrenia?

Question

Outside of medications, what can be done to slow the advancement of brain damage schizophrenia?

I've heard omega3 and 6 fatty acids can help somewhat. Is there anything else with some substantial trials and other evidence to back it up?

The person is on several medications including 2 anti-psychotics and is still having serious problems.

Answer 1

Avoiding stress could help. A lot of times schizophrenia is sparked by some stressful event or relationship.

Answer 2

Yes. I believe that there are many things that can stop the progression of schizophrenia, and even some things that can reverse it.

Omega 3's are very helpful, especially those found in Cod Liver Oil and Krill Oil. A great website, www.mercola.com, is full of information on Omega 3's. I recommend this article especially:

http://www.mercola.com/2002/mar/16/omega3.htm

Another thing that may be helpful is a vitamin and mineral supplement called EMPower Plus sold by a company called Truehope Nutritional Support Ltd. Their website is:

www.truehope.com

Click on "RESEARCH AND SCIENCE" down at the bottom of the screen. Also, check out this article:

http://discovermagazine.com/2005/may/vitamin-cure/?searchterm=truehope

It tells a little about how Truehope was started, and why EMPower works for many people suffering from different mental illnesses, particularly bipolar disorder, but has had success treating other forms including schizophrenia.

Certain amino acids can also help. Do some research into “which do what” for different symptoms.

The last thing I'll recommend to you is diet. I think any person suffering from any illness will hasten their recovery by eating properly. Now, there are many ideas out there on this subject. "Eat low-fat!" "Eat low-carb!" "Eat high-carb!" "Become vegetarian!" To sort out all this conflicting misinformation, I recommend one last website:

www.westonaprice.org

Read as much as you can on that site. Click on "The ABC's of Nutrition". The diet outlined there should be of great help in nourishing and healing the brain. A cookbook called "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon, is recommended on the website, and is a very helpful in implementing the diet.

There are probably many more things that could help one recover from schizophrenia, these are just the few I have come across in my personal battle with mental illness, and that I believe in strongly enough to share.

Wishing you all the best in your search for answers.

Answer 3

The cause of schizophrenia (which is not a single disorder but a spectrum of disorders) is unknown to medical science. I don't think it has been established that schizophrenia is caused by or attended with brain damage. Schizophrenia paranoia when treated with TLC, psychotherapy and medications gets progressively better with most patients. There are no treatments outside of these that are effective in controlling schizophrenia paranoia. I don't think any food supplement affects schizophrenia.

Look up "schizophrenia" in a Yahoo! web search for more information about the disorders.

Good luck in your study, good mental health, peace and love!

Answer 4

First, I don't see having a mental illness as "Brain Damage"--your illness doesn't continue to destroy brain cells. I see mental illness like Dr's do diabetes. I am type 2, and produce insulin, however, the insulin I do produce needs "helper hormones" to absorb the sugar more quickly and effectively. My pancreas is not "damaged".
Likewise, mental illness is just that, an on going illness.

I am Manic Depressive, and I think that if you are someone whom has to deal with mental illness in your life, psychotropics are the best "medications" for such problems. However, I have not read that Omega 3 or 6 fatty acids will help you, but I wouldn't venture to say it wouldn't hurt you. Check with any physician PHD or holistic healer first before assuming anything. You can get toxic on Vitamin A and make the whites of your eyes yellowish orange. You can take so much iron that it can shut your liver down.

The one thing that I have read, and noticed a difference in myself is the lack of B vitamins in those whom suffer Bi-Polar and other anxiety oriented illness. I've taken B-50 complex, and will say that I can concentrate better, feel more calm, etc. But as a cure for Bi-Polar, no, there is no real "cure" per se.

I hope that you can gain control of your illness. WHen I was first diagnosed, I used words like
"I suffer from" Mental illness.
"I have a disease called" Manic Depression.

I am more than a mental illness. My life is more about my choices to enjoy life than to count my setbacks caused by my illness.

I hope that one day you will find that serenity between you and your illness, much love and affection to you. Good Luck.

Stacy Yarnell
If you check into Healthyplace.com, they have chat rooms where you can investigate your querry further.

Answer 5

Other than actual medication, I don't think so. I really don't think those acids would work very well...

Sometimes schizo changes with different levels of seratonyn you produce.

But if you or someone you know has it then the medications should be taken because the side effects of those are much better than not taking them!!