Recovery From Schizophrenia (Our Success Stories)

Why have we put together this compendium for you to read?
And what does it mean to all of us at SCARF?

As doctors, therapists, psychologists, social workers what we want most is for the person under our care to recover, to improve and eventually, to get cured. Unfortunately the latter a complete cure is not always possible, especially in the case of disorders like diabetes, hypertension and osteoarthritis, among others. The same s equally true of some disorders of the mind, including schizophrenia, which is often described as the ‘greatest disabler of youth’ and a ‘cancer of the mind’.

But the silver lining on the cloud is often brighter than we often realize! Many, many persons who are diagnosed with schizophrenia at least one third, on average make a complete recovery and are able to lead normal lives. What are the factors that help them achieve this level of improvement? To a large extent, recovery depends on access to comprehensive care and treatment, ideally as early in the course of illness as possible. Equally important is the role of families, and the support a person with schizophrenia receives from those around him or her.

This treatment and support for persons with schizophrenia has been our focus at the SCARF since 1984. We have been and continue to offer various kinds of treatments and interventions that address the diverse needs of our patients and their families.

We are both grateful and proud that, in the almost three decades since we first took on this responsibility, we have been able to significant level of success in caring for our patients. It must also be said that there are several persons who have improved only marginally despite the highest quality of care, echoing patterns seen globally.

In this compendium, we are delighted to share with you stories and case histories that illustrate our successes. We have included stories from both our urban and rural interventions as well as centre-based and community-based work. Through each of these narratives, what we wish to emphasize is that there is no one single treatment package that fits all. Some people may improve with education alone; many others will require psychological and social methods of treatments including counseling, family education and cognitive behavior therapy in addition to medication. What is essential is to spend the time and effort to understand each individual’s specific requirements and customize the treatment process accordingly.

I must add that treating persons with schizophrenia isn’t just about the science of mental illness. Equally important–even mandatory! are a strong sense of commitment, empathy, humane understanding and a big, massive dose of pragmatism.

Dr R Thara Vice Chairman