The answer is that today antipsychotics are approved by the FDA for treatment of bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

They claim that ADHD means that you have a “chemical imbalance” in your brain but they have no proof of that either. The more antipsychotics they were given (larger doses), the more the brain shrank. Perhaps the age-old dogmatic pessimism that neurodegen­eration cannot be reversed has inhibited the field from attempting to escape the dopamine box, so to speak, and from developing innovative, even radical, approaches to repair of the brain of per­sons with schizophrenia.But radical thinking is justified when dealing with a cruel brain syndrome that disables young adults in the prime of life.Here are my proposals for using neuroprotective tactics to address the unmet need to repair the brain of patients ravaged by neurotoxic psy­chotic relapses.Second-generation antipsychotics (but not first-generation agents) stimulate neurogenesis in animals.Other psychotropics also induce neurogenesis, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase hippocampal neurogen­esis (atypical antipsychotics appear to increase neurogenesis in the subventric­ular zone).Lithium and valproate have been shown to be neuroprotectiveWith that observed rise in mind, sev­eral controlled studies have shown that adding an anti-inflammatory agent (aspi­rin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a COX-2 inhibitor, or minocycline) to an antipsychotic can accentuate the therapeutic response, especially during a first episode of psychosis. They can be so bad that it has been described as being tortured from the inside out. Of course monkeys do not have any mind problems so the study reflects only the physiological effect. The number of diagnoses for these three “disorders” has exploded over the past few decades, thus accounting for the increased use of antipsychotics. All Rights Reserved.to download free article PDFs,

The shrinkage can be seen in brain scans and autopsy studies. Children should not be given such mind-altering drugs when their developing brains are more susceptible to damage than adults.

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In a study done over ten years ago, within four days of taking drugs like Prozac and Zoloft, brain cells shriveled up or took on abnormal corkscrew shapes. When you’re living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, access to the right information is vital.

Don’t go for the “brain disease” theory, but look for the real physical cause and non-drug treatments.

The dysfunction that antipsychotics cause in the brains and bodies of patients will not magically resolve once the drug has been discontinued. In Reply Fountoulakis summarizes our work 1 stating: (1) we reported that antipsychotics reduce brain gray matter volume and (2) we proposed that antipsychotics should be avoided when alternatives are present. The truth is that with no science to back up their claims, something must be invented such as “brain disease” or “chemical imbalance” to make themselves sound like “experts” on the mind. Antipsychotics and Brain Damage: Shrinkage & Volume Loss. One area of controversy remains the safety and impact of antipsychotic drugs – and with justification. It would be wise to do your own research so you can make an informed decision. However, not all criticisms are created equally, and as we know, antipsychotic drugs both require careful monitoring by physicians and have the potential to help change lives for the better for those experiencing psychosis.The Treatment Advocacy Center has documented the laws and standards in each state.

Evidence of the rapidity at which antipsychotics can affect brain volume in humans was recently provided by Tost and associates. It is important to apply an informed perspective to understanding treatment for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Side effects often go away after some time or adjustment of the device.