Mental Health Solutions Blog

According to a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, aspirin therapy reduces symptoms of psychosis in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. It is speculated that inflammation is causing havoc in the brain as well as the body now. This reminds me of a study published I believe in the early 2000’s that suggested Ibuprofen may prevent Alzheimer’s Disease, another prevalent brain disease. 

Does that mean that we should all start taking aspirin daily? I wouldn’t do this without consulting with your psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner or psychiatrist. For some people aspirin and other anti-inflammatories can actually irritate the digestive tract and may even cause inflammation, so if you are in the category you may not be a good candidate for aspirin. Like anything, it is important to weigh the benefits with possible consequences. No two people are alike… However, it is the middle of the day and I am feeling a little cognitively fuzzy (and I have Schizophrenia and Alzheimers in the family)…not much of a caffeine drinker—just an occasional diet coke—perhaps I should try an aspirin? Hmm….

Tags: aspirin, prevention, schizophrenia, treatment

Attention families with psychosis among relatives! Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent onset of psychotic disorders in high-risk populations. This is according to a study published by Amminger and associates in the Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2010 Feb;67(2):146-54. The study suggests that a common supplement that we use for heart disease and stroke prevention may also prevent the progression of psychotic illness in those who have what is called prodromal symptoms (or what I call “pre-psychotic symptoms”). What are pre-psychotic symptoms? Early symptoms may include hearing voices or having some unusual sensory experiences; mood disorders; disorganization in surroundings, speech or actions; and unusual motor activities or posturing. My opinion with this study is that it is certainly worth trying as we all have heard how good Omega-3s are for the body and brain. I think too often we are inclined to jump to powerful drugs earlier than is necessary. How about trying upping our fatty fish consumption or using a supplement? For many the Omega-3s may be enough!

Tags: mental health, Omega 3 fatty acids, prevention, psychosis