PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS THAT WOULD BE USED, MAY LEAD TO CHANGES IN SIZE AND SHAPE OF BRAIN!

Nearly 40 states in the USA now have laws allowing courts to order people to take powerful psychiatric drugs against their will, even while living out in the community in the sanctity of their own homes. These "involuntary outpatient commitment" laws are quietly spreading internationally.

NOW is the time to fax/phone/write to the New York State Commissioner of Mental Health to STOP a bill promoting this forced outpatient psychiatric drugging. Such a bill can impact everyone by establishing a precedent.

And this is the same government that says it has a "war against drugs"?

Whether you live in -- or out -- of New York State, show that the whole world is watching! Don't let any more homes be made into wards!

RECENT BRAIN SCAN STUDIES SHOW THESE PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS CAN ALTER BRAIN

Recent medical studies using CT and MRI scans show that the chemicals used in these forced druggings -- the "neuroleptics" such as Haldol, Prolixin, Thorazine, Mellaril, Stelazine, Navane, etc. -- may in the long run alter the actual size and shape of the brain. [Citations for these two important brain scan studies are at THE VERY BOTTOM of this alert: scroll down.]

These neuroleptic-induced brain changes may explain why quitting neuroleptics can cause such a hellish "rebound" effect for months, in which the subject may experience worse emotional and mental problems than before they even started taking the neuroleptics. Neuroleptic "discontinuation syndrome" is often seen in the medical literature. [Citation example: J Clin Psychiatry 1997 Jun; 58(6):252-5; "Clozapine withdrawal resulting in delirium with psychosis: a report of three cases."]

Many people willingly choose to take neuroleptics. But forcing these drugs into the community is far more insidious than the cigarettes once pushed by "Joe Camel." Two studies show African Americans are far more likely to get long-acting depot neuroleptics, and at higher doses. [Citations: See American Psychiatric Association's _Psychiatric Services_ 3/96 and 1/94.]

Neuroleptic manfuacturers themselves warn their products are associated with the ultimate side effect -- death, such as by neuroleptic malignant syndrome, choking, over-heating, "sudden unexplained death," etc.

The main pusher of the forced drug bill is the extremist Treatment Advocacy Center, which is funded by the millionaire Stanley family, and headed by psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey. TAC is misleading the public by calling their forced drug proposal "assisted treatment."

TAC is now lobbying Commissioner Jim Stone. Let him hear from you instead! If Commissioner Jim Stone can be convinced not to push this legislation, your action may help kill the forced outpatient drugging bill. ACT NOW!

A sample comment you can send to the Commissioner: "If you endorse 'customer empowerment,' then are you listening to the thousands of New York State psychiatric survivors and allies who are united in opposition to this dangerous proposal? Human rights violations don't help anyone!"

* * * * * A C T I O N * * * * *

WRITE NOW:

Jim Stone, Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Ave
Albany NY 12229 USA

FAX NOW: 518-474-2149

PHONE NOW: 518-474-4403

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CITATIONS ABOUT TWO STUDIES LINKING NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS TO CHANGES OF BRAIN SIZE AND SHAPE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These two brain scan studies link neuroleptics to changes in the shape of the brain: subcortial brain swelling, and frontal brain shrinkage.

1. MRI BRAIN SCAN STUDY LINKS NEUROLEPTICS TO BRAIN SIZE/SHAPE CHANGE

This MRI scan study concludes that neuroleptics seem to be responsible for subcortical brain swelling.

To read full article and see MRI scan photos go to: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/155/12/1711

Citation: American Journal of Psychiatry, December 1998, "Subcortical MRI Volumes in Neuroleptic-Naive and Treated Patients with Schizophrenia."

For a copy of article write to: Dr. Raquel E. Gur; Neuropsychiatry Section; University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 10th Floor; Gates Bldg.; Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA.

2. CT BRAIN SCAN STUDY LINKS NEUROLEPTICS TO BRAIN SIZE/SHAPE CHANGE

Researchers use longitudinal CT scans to reveal frontal brain shrinkage associated with neuroleptic use. Conclusion: "The estimated risk of atrophy increases by 6.5% for every additional 10 g neuroleptic drug."

Below is full text. Address to ask researchers in Denmark for a copy of study is at bottom.

Citation: The Lancet, Sept 5, 1998 v352 n9130 p784(1).

Title: "Neuroleptics in progressive structural brain abnormalities in psychiatric illness."

Authors: Al Madsen, N Keiding, A Karle, S Esbjerg, R Hemmingsen

Progressive abnormalities have been reported in schizophrenic patients.1 We did a prospective, longitudinal study of brain structure. 31 drug-naive psychotic patients underwent computed tomography (CT) at first admission to hospital and after 5 years of illness. We obtained written informed consent from all patients. A radiologist masked to the patients' identities and diagnoses, date of scans, and the nature of the study compared the first and second CT scans. Brain atrophy was assessed on a visual scale, on which 0-1 meant no changes or dubious atrophy and 2-3 meant moderate or severe atrophic changes. After 5 years of illness, we found significant progression of frontal atrophy in 21 schizophrenic patients, compared with nine consecutively included healthy volunteers. We saw progressive frontal atrophy in ten non-schizophrenic patients, but to a lesser degree.

During follow-up, schizophrenic patients received a median of 172040 mg (range 19 540-928450) neuroleptic medication (chlorpromazine equivalents). Seven non-schizophrenic patients received a median of 20780 mg (range 678-141596). The only atypical neuroleptic used was clozapine, administered to three patients, always in high doses and in combination with traditional neuroleptics.

Patients were thought to have a chronic, non-remittent course of illness if all psychiatric records described a state of permanent psychosis, and if they were psychotic at the time of the reinvestigation. Some patients were described as remitted, but if in long interviews they showed firm delusive systems that seemed to be integrated but not necessarily overt parts of their lives, and if they were judged to be permanently deluded, despite their records, they were classified as non-remittent. This classification was made without knowledge of the results of the CT scans. Nine schizophrenic patients (eight men and one woman) had been continuously psychotic during follow-up. At reinvestigation, non-remittent patients had significantly higher ratings for psychopathology (SANS and SAPS2) than remittent patients.

Because of the small sample, we did exact tests in a logistic regression analysis with LogXact, adjusted for sex, course of illness, (remission/non-remission), diagnosis, and neuroleptic load. Course of illness and diagnosis had no significant impact on the development of frontal atrophy. Sex was significant (p=0.035) if course of illness was not included into the model, but sex became non-significant (p=0.138) if course of illness was included. Neuroleptic load was significant whether sex was included or not (p=0.013 and 0.0003, respectively). The estimated risk of atrophy increases by 6.4% for each additional 10 g neuroleptic drug. Non-remittent patients received a higher neuroleptic dose than remittent patients, but the model was corrected for this interaction.

Association has been shown between frontal atrophy or aplasia and non-respondence to antipsychotic drugs,3 and neuroleptic side-effects as tardive dyskinesia and akathisia have been associated with wider sulci.4 These studies do not include neuroleptic load as a possible explanatory factor for the anormalities found. Traditional neuroleptics have been shown to affect brain structure because they enhance the volume of basal ganglia,5 but the potential impact of neuroleptics, on frontal cortex, for example, is not known.

Factors causing progression of brain atrophy have not yet been identified. Our study showed an unexpected effect of neuroleptic medication on cerebral cortex, but our analysis suggests that the results cannot be taken as accidental. Future longitudinal studies of brain structure in schizophrenia are needed to show whether atypical antipsychotic drugs may be more beneficial.

1. DeLisi LE, Sakuma M, Tew W, Kushner M, Hoff AL, Grimson R. Schizophrenia as a chronic active brain process: a study of progressive brain structural change subsequent to the onset of schizophrenia. Psychiatr Res 1997; 7: 129-40.

2. Andreasen NC, Black DW, Introductory textbook of psychiatry. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press, 1991.

3. Friedman L, Knutson L, Shurell M, et al, Prefrontal sulcal prominence is inversely related to response to clozapine in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 1991; 29: 865-77.

4. Sandyk R, Kay SR, Sulcal size and
neuroleptic-induced akathisia. Biol
Psychiatry 1990: 27: 466-67.

5. Frazier JA, Giedd JN, Kaysen D, et al. Childhood-onset schizophrenia: brain MRI rescan after 2 years of clozapine maintenance treatment. Am J Psychiatry 1996; 153: 4.

For copy of study write:

A. Madsen; Department of Psychiatry E
Bispebjerh Hospital
DK 2400 Copenhagen NV Denmark