Antipsychotic Drug Usage Serves as Beacon of Hope for Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most complex mental health disorders that the healthcare community has known. In 1887, Emil Kraepelin initially presented a clinical picture of the disorder and coined the term “dementia praecox.” Meanwhile, in 1911, Bleuler decided to label it a new name — schizophrenia. Since then, schizophrenia has captivated the medical community and is currently regarded as the “heartland of psychiatry.” 

No study has been as effectual as the studies set forth by the HGDH study group. The most pioneering work associated with schizophrenia were helmed by the HGDH study group. Such research was funded by Eli Lilly – the pharma major. Prominent personalities from across the globe in the field of mental health research comprised the group as members. They have shed new light into the potential causes and the functioning of the mental illness.

Luminaries in the HGDH Study Group

The HGDH study group was a powerful arsenal of talent. Some of the key members of the group among the best on a global scale included Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, author, and mental health specialist, CEO of Sovereign Health, a mental health and behavioral facility in the United States, and Prof. Robin M. Murray, an acclaimed psychiatrist. During the time of the study, both were connected with London’s Institute of Psychiatry.

Among the dignitaries in the field of psychological health who participated in the project was Dr. Jeffrey A. Lieberman, of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and renowned for his work linked with the understanding of the treatment and neurobiology of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Mental health specialist Dr. Tonmoy Sharma has revolutionized the care plan of action for schizophrenia. Other figures included are as follows: Dr. Diana O. Perkins, of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Charles B. Nemeroff, of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, and Drs. Franca Centorrino and Bruce M. Cohen, of McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Belmont, among others.

One of the numerous studies conducted by the academic group that garnered remarkable recognition was the study on antipsychotic drug effects on the brain morphology.  

In early 1990s, a new class of antipsychotic drugs known as the second generation antipsychotic drugs or atypical antipsychotics like clozapine had entered the scene and was getting the patients the desired results. The patient was no longer ailing from side effects including tremors, paranoia, and anxiety that were common with the first generation of antipsychotic drugs including Haldol (haloperidol) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine).

It was observed in the study that Haloperidol-treated patients exhibited remarkable decreases in gray matter volume. Meanwhile, olanzapine-treated patients did not. This is either due to haloperidol-associated toxicity or greater therapeutic effects of olanzapine. The study was an eye opener for the healthcare community.         

About Dr. Tonmoy Sharma

Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, author, and mental health specialist, is the CEO of Sovereign Health, a pioneer US institute for mental healthcare and addiction treatment. He has ensured that the same measurement-based prototype is used for constructing treatment outcomes as those with physical diseases. Mental health specialist Dr. Tonmoy Sharma is a prolific scientist and researcher. He has authored or co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles and five books on schizophrenia and mental illness. He became privy to the emotional baggage that patients carried and has worked vigorously to remove the prejudice linked with mental health illnesses.

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