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Page 6 Executive Summary 4. Develop and implement a smoking cessation
program. This program should be designed to meet the special needs of the
mentally ill. The program might be supported by funds secured by the State
though their settlement with tobacco manufacturers. 5. Develop
a consumer psycho-education
program. More than 60 percent of respondents say they want to learn more about
how their medications are supposed to help them, more than 60 percent said they
want to learn more about side-effects, more than 60 percent say they want to
learn more about other medications that might help them and 35 percent said they
do not have adequate time to discuss their medication issues with their
psychiatrist. These findings provide our rationale
for this recommendation. We have offered a similar recommendation many
times in earlier reports, but, to our knowledge, has never been acted upon by
any provider organization or by the Office of Mental Health. The creation of
such a program might begin with the formation of a group of consumers, providers
and administrators who are charged with the task of designing a consumer
education program that is concerned with
such matters as medication, various forms of treatment and other matters. The
group should have access to experienced mental health educators. 6.
Create group composed of consumers, providers, administrators and, possibly,
academics and drug manufactures, to develop methods that would help to
control/reduce the use of alcohol, street drugs, nicotine and caffeine as a
means of symptom control (this effort might be blended with recommendation 4,
the development of a smoking cessation program) 7. Conduct
preliminary library research on the psychology and symbolism of taking
psychotropic medication. Hold informal focus groups regarding the same issues.
Explore the possibility of using any findings in a revised and refined
medication survey. Appendix I: Interview Sites
Number in Parenthesis Indicates Number of Interviews At Site
Appendix 2:
Craig E. Strickland, Ph.D. Dr. Strickland is currently Associate Director of the Behavioral Health Training and Education Network in Philadelphia. He has also served as an Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University and as Advanced Laboratory Coordinator at Bryn Mawr College. He has held clinical positions at United Health and Human Services, Hall-Mercer Community Metal Health and Mental Retardation Center, and at other organizations. He has, in various settings, offered courses in the Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances, basic and advanced psychopharmacology and child and adolescent psychopharmacology. His numerous publications include “Anticonflict Effects of Chlordiazepoxide Following Multiple Lesions Of the Amygdala” in Society For Neuroscience Abstract, “Anxiolytic Effects Of Benzodiazepines In Amygdala-Lesioned Rats” in Psychopharmacology and others. Appendix 3: Answers To The Question “In your own words please tell me what you think would happen if you stopped taking your current psychiatric medication(s). Get sick (2) I’d be in another world, I
would go off again. I’d get sick That’s a hard one. I
don’t know I will go off the wall I go crazy I wouldn’t sleep so well Anxiety would increase, I
might be more depressed I would feel restless I will feel worse off than
before I do well when I take well.
I would be in the hospital I’d keep crying. I think
I’d be moody I go off the wall. I have
bipolar and I used to hurt myself and others I think I would become
confused, insecure and have difficulty with my speech. I don’t think I’m all
there I would hallucinate or be
restless a lot I would “get hurt” All my symptoms would come
back (2) I’ve run out before.
Physically I experience constant vertigo, dizziness. Mentally I can’t
concentrate, unstable mood swings and anxiety increases. Depression and negative
thinking return, sleeplessness I get depressed and go off Might be nervous, could go
crazy, would have nightmares Anxiety would increase, I
might be more depressed Stay up at night, unrelax,
isolate and hallucinate I would have seizures Hospital I would feel real down I’d be depressed, shaky,
no sleep, I’d be back in the hospital Iv I would stop, I’d
probably get nervous and I would get to go back to the hospital I would go through
withdrawal symptoms and get a little upset more easily. Would need support I think It’d be terrified
to come out of the house, be isolated Nothing (2) Go to the hospital Don’t know Go back to the hospital Nausea, vomiting, headaches,
trouble with reading long text, depression, suicidal feelings/thoughts I would not like to find out I’d go into a psychiatric
hospital I wouldn’t feel crazy if I
stopped taking my meds. The side effects are killers. I feel like a different
person I’d probably end up in hospital with mania or depression
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