Can You Make A Full Recovery From Schizophrenia Without Medication?
Schizophrenia is a serious chronic disorder typically associated with a range of symptoms, including symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis is a medical term that can be used to describe a state in which a person is not sure what is and isn’t real. The most common psychotic symptoms present in schizophrenia tend to be hallucinations, in which a person perceives sensory stimulation that doesn’t actually exist (i.e., hearing voices no one else can hear), and delusions, or false and illogical beliefs that often aren’t physically possible (i.e., believing members of one’s family are being controlled by aliens).
Treatment for schizophrenia usually includes a combination of medication and therapy. Although some people may be interested in focusing on non-medication options, symptoms like hallucinations and delusions rarely go away without prescribed antipsychotics. Still, therapy and lifestyle changes can be effective in maximizing the effects of pharmaceutical treatment.
An overview of schizophrenia symptoms
While psychotic symptoms are potentially the most well-known (and most misunderstood) aspect of schizophrenia, the disorder can be associated with a variety of other symptoms as well.
- Positive symptoms generally refer to symptoms that a schizophrenia patient may display that a person without schizophrenia typically would not. These symptoms can include hallucinations and delusions, but also abnormal motor behavior and garbled speech patterns.
- Negative symptoms can refer to behaviors that a person without schizophrenia would typically participate in, but a person with schizophrenia may not. For example, a schizophrenia patient may have difficulty maintaining personal hygiene or speaking with regular and expected voice inflections.
- Cognitive symptoms typically refer to difficulties with executive function that may impact people with schizophrenia, such as memory issues or problems with decision-making.
What role can antipsychotic medications play in treating schizophrenia?
While antipsychotic medication may not cure schizophrenia, medication can reduce symptoms, particularly psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. These medications usually accomplish this reduction by specifically targeting and regulating the brain chemicals associated with symptoms of schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic medication may produce several side effects. Older forms of antipsychotic medication, now referred to as “typical antipsychotics,” were usually associated with more of these negative impacts in people with schizophrenia. Mental health research has developed a new generation of antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia treatment, called “atypical antipsychotics,” that may be associated with fewer side effects and can help manage symptoms of psychosis. However, side effects can still be common.
Short-term side effects associated with transitioning onto antipsychotic medication may include the following:
- Restlessness
- Blurred vision or dizziness
- Muscle spasms and twitching
- Drowsiness and fatigue
- Trembling
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Agitation
- Muscle stiffness
- Suicidal thoughts
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached at 988 and is available 24/7.
Long-term use of antipsychotic medication may also result in chronic side effects.
- Weight gain: Some people on antipsychotic medication may gain weight to the point of experiencing obesity and related health challenges, such as type 2 diabetes. Individuals can manage medication-associated weight gain through nutritional counseling and an exercise routine, both of which may have positive impacts on other psychiatric symptoms.
- Cardiovascular complications: Antipsychotic medication can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular events, including arrhythmias and myocarditis. Doctors typically carefully monitor individuals using antipsychotic medication for these risk factors.
- Hormonal imbalances: Antipsychotic medication can cause the body to develop elevated levels of prolactin, which can have a variety of impacts, including affecting menstrual cycles in women and causing complications with sexual arousal and fertility in people of all genders.
- Cognitive function: While antipsychotics can alleviate psychotic symptoms, they may worsen cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia, such as issues with memory and attention. Some people on antipsychotic medication report being “in a mental fog.”
- Tardive dyskinesia: Tardive dyskinesia can be defined as a condition resulting in involuntary movements, usually limb movements or facial expressions.
- Emotional blunting: While decreased emotional responsiveness may be initially helpful in regulating the intense emotions associated with serious psychiatric disorders, prolonged emotional blunting can have a negative impact on a person’s relationships and overall life satisfaction.
If you are experiencing negative medication side effects, talk to your doctor before making any changes to your routine. Medical providers may be able to adjust the medication type or dosage to alleviate some side effects. Always speak to your doctor or psychiatrist before starting, stopping, or changing the way you take medication.
What are non-pharmaceutical treatment options for schizophrenia?
As noted above, psychotic disorders typically need some level of pharmaceutical treatment to address specific symptoms. However, that does not mean medication is the only effective form of intervention for schizophrenia. Combining some of the below techniques with a medication routine may significantly reduce symptoms and lead to recovery.
Lifestyle changes
A variety of lifestyle adjustments may be helpful for symptom management.
- Eating nutritious food: Consuming balanced and well-rounded meals can promote overall health and reduce non-psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia. There is some evidence that specific choices related to eating habits, like eating foods with fewer carbohydrates, may help alleviate psychotic symptoms, but more research is needed, so remember to consult with your doctor.
- Keeping a regular sleep schedule: For many individuals with schizophrenia, psychotic episodes can be triggered by the stress associated with a lack of sleep. Keeping a regular sleep schedule can be significant in preventing psychotic breaks.
- Avoiding recreational substances and alcohol: Any type of substance use may trigger psychosis or worsen other symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
- Maintaining a social support system: Schizophrenia can cause symptoms that may lead people to withdraw or isolate themselves from others, but meaningful social support is usually associated with greater overall well-being and more positive long-term outcomes.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy normally focuses on the interaction between a person’s thoughts and their behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy for schizophrenia can involve helping individuals understand their symptoms and developing strategies to manage them effectively. These strategies can include the following:
- Challenging delusional beliefs as they occur, and understanding more about what may have led to their development
- Building social skills
- Using techniques for stress management and anxiety reduction
- Altering negative or unhelpful self-talk
- Identifying ways to check what is real
- Developing coping mechanisms for emotional challenges
One variation of cognitive behavioral therapy that can be particularly helpful for people with schizophrenia is cognitive enhancement therapy, which usually focuses on helping individuals build cognitive and social skills to improve day-to-day function. Examples of skills taught in this type of therapy can include those related to memory, language, and information processing.
Finding support for schizophrenia
The lack of surety associated with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders can lead to anxiety and nervousness at the thought of interacting with other people. This fear may make it difficult to access traditional in-person therapy appointments to receive cognitive behavioral therapy or cognitive enhancement therapy. In these instances, online therapy may be a beneficial option. For medication access, many people with schizophrenia will still need to see a medical provider, and in-person care may be necessary during acute psychosis. However, online therapy can be a helpful supplement to other forms of schizophrenia treatment.
Research has indicated that online therapy may be just as effective as in-person therapy for treating a variety of mental health conditions, including psychotic disorders. One study found that engaging in a course of online therapy (combined with antipsychotic medication) usually helped reduce psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia in a group of patients.
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