Craig Olson

I have sent you the url
hope you enjoy

I was in JFK...wrote an article about it here on Gather.
I have been reading your articles on mental illness, .....
well written, I say

I enjoyed reading your article and would like to add that I agree there are physical deformities/malfunctions etc. that make up the biological aspects causing Schizophrenia. I have a careeer as a Disability Determination Specialist; working in a DDS potition for 10 years. I have Schizophrenic cases all the time. Usually a family member or friend must intervene on their behalf. The only Schizophrenic person I ever denied disability benefits was a man with a severe impairment, but he was too paranoid to even check his mail and go to an examination. He had never been to the doctor for his illness. I had to have a Psychologist confirm the diagnosis. I truly tried to get someone to take him, but he was nowhere to be found. He roamed the streets and the Welfare Department knew him well. A lady from the Welfare Dept. even went out of her way every day after work by driving the streets to see if she could find him. Sadly I had to deny him. If a person is truly Schizophrenic, with all the signs and symptoms along with a diagnosis, then I usually award that person disability benefits. Most Schizophrenic peopple are males, but I have run across females. I have been interested in the genetic/hereditary aspect of this disease as well as all mental diseases. Your article is intriguing in the linkage between the physcial aspects of the disease. I would have to say the physical deformities could definately be a pathway to a hereditary possibility. If only Modern Science could develop a way to repair those areas of the brain and therefore possibly cure Schizophrenia. What a wonderful Medical breakthrough for mankind. I will be looking forward to your future postings. Char

P.S. To address Ericka Choate's response dated 1/19/08, Schizophrenic people do not often take their medication as well as other people with mental health impairments. This fact is the reason they do not improve mentally. It is part of the disease to not take their meds. Also many people with mental illnesses do not respond to the diversity of drugs available for them. Once a person uses one particular drug then after a period of time that drug stops working. Thus, the mental health specialist prescribes a new drug, etc. until throughout their life span they become nonreactive to most or all the drugs on the market. I wish all menal illnesses could be treated, but unfortunately some mentally ill patients do not comply with taking the drugs or become nonreactive to such drugs.

i believe mental illness can be treated and alleviated with psychotherapy,chemistry only mucks up the facts.im not sayin it doesn't have its place.however i believe psychiatry relies too heavily on it."cover it up...it cannot be fixed"hogwash i say,it takes guts that most mental folks aren't willing to use,but it works.