Struggling for proper treatment

Some people are not given the drugs they want

A survey has found that 62% of people with severe mental illness are being denied a choice of drug treatment by their doctor. BBC News Online describes the case of people who had to struggle to get appropriate treatment.

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Jane's story:

Jane, from Wales, has had her life transformed after being able to access a new atypical antipsychotic drug for schizophrenia, Clozapine.

She spent five years from the age of 19 in secure hospitals after striking out at a nurse during an early phase of her illness.

Jane was prescribed every typical anti-psychotic drug as she moved from prison to medium secure unit to special hospital.

However, none of them worked, they only caused her frightening physical side effects including uncontrollable shaking, sedation and locked jaw.

At Ashworth Special Hospital she was offered Clozapine, an atypical anti-psychotic used in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Five years on, at the age of 30, Jane's life has been "transformed".

She works four days a week as a receptionist at a National Schizophrenia Fellowship project in Wales and lives happily in the community.

Jane speaks about her experiences at conferences in a bid to lift the stigma surrounding severe mental illness and undermine public stereotypes.

However, her GP refused to fund her Clozapine treatment because it was "too expensive" and Jane had to go back to a NHS hospital to ensure that she received the medicine that has helped her turn her life around.

Kevin's story:

Kevin died when he fell from a 10th floor window of the Lister Hospital in Hertfordshire in April 1998. He was just 26-years old.

Kevin became ill in 1991 and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in January 1995.

He became ill from the side-effects of the old-style medication he was offered but was refused new-style anti-schizophrenia drugs which have been shown to reduce the risk of suicide, despite a recommendation from the country's premier hospital that he should do so.

His mother Grace is battling to ensure that people with schizophrenia do not suffer from the rationing of more expensive drug treatments.

James' story:

James, from Cardiff, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1992, 19 years after beginning to hear voices.

He kept his voices in check using alcohol and street drugs.

It was not until a series of overdoses following a relationship breakdown brought him into contact with a sympathetic psychiatrist that he was able to begin the process of recovering his life.

He was prescribed the typical antipsychotic sulpiride that dealt with the symptoms of schizophrenia but led to him putting on two stone in weight.

Although his psychiatrist proved very helpful in enabling James to access a range of psychological therapies, he was told nothing of the side effects of his medicine.

Only now, after coming off the medicine has James' weight returned to normal.

James says that the best non-drug treatment he has used is art therapy.

He has asked for cognitive behavioural therapy but has been told that he is now too well to receive it.

James has qualified as a social worker and is about to start work with homeless young people.

Shimon's story:

Shimon, from Kent, was on melleril, a "typical" antipsychotic, and found that it left him "a bit more animated that a potato, but not much."

It also had a dramatic effect on his sexual functioning.

He went on to risperidone, an "atypical" antipsychotic. It also proved to have dramatic side effects.

Shimon's weight jumped from 14 stone to 17 stone in just six weeks, leaving him unable to take part in the sport and fitness pastimes that he enjoyed.

He experienced impotence, and lack of libido.

He complained to his psychiatrist but his concerns were dismissed as all in his imagination.

After eight months, he was experiencing severe akathisia (restlessness and the inability to remain still) and was finally moved on to quetiapine (seroquel), another of the antipsychpotic drugs.

Shimon says that he has been able to regain his emotional range, function properly in his job and now has no trouble with weight or sexual functioning.

He says that people have to be given a choice because some people get on well with one while another person may experience severe side effects.