Psychiatric Illness Stressors
Story of Psychiatric Illness
Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Nancy had started becoming violent and would often attack her brother and sister. She also threatened to hurt herself. Nancy was hospitalized several times on a short-term basis to seek help, but the family saw very little results. Eventually, Nancy regressed to the developmental level of a 5-year-old, and the stress on the family was starting to take a heavy toll. In fact, Nancy's brother had said he had had enough of her.
At the point Nancy's parents decided to put her in a long-term residential treatment program, they thought they had lost her forever. After doctors started her on a new drug, Nancy's mood started to stabilize. After six months, Nancy was talking and interacting again like a typical teenager. Nancy started going to junior high school again and continued to make great progress.
Nancy and her family have a life again. Therapy even helped mend the strained relationship between Nancy and her brother.
Stressors
Major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are three psychiatric illness stressors that are risk factors for suicide. Studies have shown that approximately 90% of people who commit suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric illness. More than 60% of these suicides are due to major depression. (See Depression / Suicide.)
For this reason, major depression is the major risk factor for suicide. Although there are successful treatments for these disorders, less than 45% of these people were diagnosed or ever treated for their mental disorder. The Division of Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center uses an eclectic approach to treatment.
