Sectioned - delusional schizophrenia
Discussion
hi, my brother was sectioned 4 weeks ago. Long story short - he's 42, started smoking weed at 16. Didnt do v well at school, bar/restaurant work most of his life, hand to mouth, always turned up to work though. No girlfriends to talk of, no kids. Hes a difficult character we've never seen eye to eye so only see him every few months. Hes a habitual weed smoker, breakfast, lunch, dinner...
Couple of years ago, he started talking about a traveller girl who came into his pub and decided she betrothed herself to him! This has continued as a slow burner for 4 years, saying he "needed to make a decision" - everyone thought he was being a bit of a prat and it was the weed taking.... His manager tells me this became alot worse in may/June, talking of 2 girls, a good and a bad family. They both wanted him. The good girl drives a white TT the bad girl (chameleon) a blacked out merc/bmw type car. People were now after him with guns, dogs, following him with drones. He dissapeared - spends 2 nights sleeping rough avoiding them. He had his passport to travel to Germany for a final "meet". he talked about better off being dead than being hunted. Obv I couldnt find any evidence these people exist or from anyone he knows.
None of his friends/manager could get him to the dr. His manager called me to tell me of the rapid decline, and, 2 days later I managed to get him sectioned by marching him to dr's, to a+e, and finally specialist mental health services
He is now coming out. The drugs (inc Aripiprazole) have limited his anxiety but he still believes he needs to make a decision on marrying this girl and the bad girls family are after him. He is coming to stay with me tomorrow until he is back on his feet/work. The dr says hes not acute anymore
i understand the local medical team will visit but any experience greatly received on helping him with 3rd party resources, groups, websites would be fab. Cheers!
Couple of years ago, he started talking about a traveller girl who came into his pub and decided she betrothed herself to him! This has continued as a slow burner for 4 years, saying he "needed to make a decision" - everyone thought he was being a bit of a prat and it was the weed taking.... His manager tells me this became alot worse in may/June, talking of 2 girls, a good and a bad family. They both wanted him. The good girl drives a white TT the bad girl (chameleon) a blacked out merc/bmw type car. People were now after him with guns, dogs, following him with drones. He dissapeared - spends 2 nights sleeping rough avoiding them. He had his passport to travel to Germany for a final "meet". he talked about better off being dead than being hunted. Obv I couldnt find any evidence these people exist or from anyone he knows.
None of his friends/manager could get him to the dr. His manager called me to tell me of the rapid decline, and, 2 days later I managed to get him sectioned by marching him to dr's, to a+e, and finally specialist mental health services
He is now coming out. The drugs (inc Aripiprazole) have limited his anxiety but he still believes he needs to make a decision on marrying this girl and the bad girls family are after him. He is coming to stay with me tomorrow until he is back on his feet/work. The dr says hes not acute anymore
i understand the local medical team will visit but any experience greatly received on helping him with 3rd party resources, groups, websites would be fab. Cheers!
Suspect you've already found them, but a potential starting place is Mind, the mental health charity. Read the relevant bits (the website has a socking great 'looking after someone else' bit), ring them up for a chat, general consensus from friends who've been more or less in your shoes is collect as much support as you can and then filter through as you work out what's useful to you.
Best of luck to the pair of you. This bit may not be quick and I'm sure you already know, not easy.
Best of luck to the pair of you. This bit may not be quick and I'm sure you already know, not easy.
Well done offering a safe haven to him. The anti-psychotics will keep him on the straight and narrow but they won't address his problem, for which he will need long term counselling. I'm slightly surprised the nhs hasn't already arranged this. Cannabis induced psychosis is quite well documented now so there should be support groups out there. You have your own health to look after and unless you're qualified in some way you should let the nhs shoulder the burden of looking after him if he starts to become too draining.
as he was detained ("sectioned") he'll be discharged onto Care Programme Approach (CPA). this gets him an in with the local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT).
was he Section 2 or section 3? i suspect 2 but always best to clarify as Sec 3 gives you Section 117 Aftercare, which makes a difference being, as it is, a statutory duty to provide aftercare.
also, was this is first episode, or rather, first episode known to services ? if so, he has eligibility for the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EiP) pathway. Aetiology (cause) of the psychosis is not an issue so drug induced or functional is a non-argument.
he may also be eligible for a dual diagnosis pathway if it exists in the locality. DD = a diagnosed mental illness and psycho-active substance use
relapse prevention is essentially about avoiding triggers, establshing the relapse signature and early recognition of those warning signs, support and relapse prevention skills acquisition.
Mind certainly worth a look, also check any publications by the Maudsley - they specialise in the treatment resistant psychoses and their literature is transferrable. the Royal College of Psychiatry (RCP) has issued standards for early intervention in psychosis and there are, of course, NICE guidelines
paul
was he Section 2 or section 3? i suspect 2 but always best to clarify as Sec 3 gives you Section 117 Aftercare, which makes a difference being, as it is, a statutory duty to provide aftercare.
also, was this is first episode, or rather, first episode known to services ? if so, he has eligibility for the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EiP) pathway. Aetiology (cause) of the psychosis is not an issue so drug induced or functional is a non-argument.
he may also be eligible for a dual diagnosis pathway if it exists in the locality. DD = a diagnosed mental illness and psycho-active substance use
relapse prevention is essentially about avoiding triggers, establshing the relapse signature and early recognition of those warning signs, support and relapse prevention skills acquisition.
Mind certainly worth a look, also check any publications by the Maudsley - they specialise in the treatment resistant psychoses and their literature is transferrable. the Royal College of Psychiatry (RCP) has issued standards for early intervention in psychosis and there are, of course, NICE guidelines
paul
johnxjsc1985 said:
I hope you are fully aware of what you might be taking on. You need professional assistance not the thoughts and comments of people on forums myself included.
Unfortunately, no im not fully aware of what i am taking on - this is all new to me. He is fully under the local mental heath team so other peoples experience are invaluableJust a few qu answered - this is his 1st time in mental health. He was section two and spent 4 weeks in a controlled unit
The hospital changed his meds to Aripiprazole 1x 20mg per day 2 weeks ago, The side effects are really hurting him - he cant sit still for more than a few minutes, He says he is "lost" doesnt know what to do - is either sleeping or watching tv. Doesnt want to go out, only walks around the block to try to loose the jitters. The dr split his meds Friday into 2 x 10mg which havent really helped him yet. Hes is thinking of not taking the drugs as they "force them on him in hospital, no one can do that now". He also thinks he is going to be like this forever - "im not thinking of killing myself but whats the point of living like this?" he said last night. I'll talk to the dr today
As above, im not aware of what ive taking on. The future is not looking very bright...
cheeky_chops said:
Unfortunately, no im not fully aware of what i am taking on - this is all new to me. He is fully under the local mental heath team so other peoples experience are invaluable
Just a few qu answered - this is his 1st time in mental health. He was section two and spent 4 weeks in a controlled unit
The hospital changed his meds to Aripiprazole 1x 20mg per day 2 weeks ago, The side effects are really hurting him - he cant sit still for more than a few minutes, He says he is "lost" doesnt know what to do - is either sleeping or watching tv. Doesnt want to go out, only walks around the block to try to loose the jitters. The dr split his meds Friday into 2 x 10mg which havent really helped him yet. Hes is thinking of not taking the drugs as they "force them on him in hospital, no one can do that now". He also thinks he is going to be like this forever - "im not thinking of killing myself but whats the point of living like this?" he said last night. I'll talk to the dr today
As above, im not aware of what ive taking on. The future is not looking very bright...
Hope you realise I wasn't being off hand or flippant. I sincerely hope things work out well for both of you.Just a few qu answered - this is his 1st time in mental health. He was section two and spent 4 weeks in a controlled unit
The hospital changed his meds to Aripiprazole 1x 20mg per day 2 weeks ago, The side effects are really hurting him - he cant sit still for more than a few minutes, He says he is "lost" doesnt know what to do - is either sleeping or watching tv. Doesnt want to go out, only walks around the block to try to loose the jitters. The dr split his meds Friday into 2 x 10mg which havent really helped him yet. Hes is thinking of not taking the drugs as they "force them on him in hospital, no one can do that now". He also thinks he is going to be like this forever - "im not thinking of killing myself but whats the point of living like this?" he said last night. I'll talk to the dr today
As above, im not aware of what ive taking on. The future is not looking very bright...
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