Dear MaryAnne,
I live in India and I have a sister who is now about 44 years' old.
She suffers from mental illness, probably for the last 15 years. Diagonosed as schrizophenia. Initially, she was under lot of medication and was given electric shocks also. But of no avail.
She does not take medicines and does not cooperate.
Initially, she used to hear voices and used to see people watching her through walls and closed doors and talking only about her and trying to harm her and ridiculing her. She also went into a religious fits - in the sense performing profuse worships and prayers to GOD (Hindu religion) and at any hour of the day or night. Used to hardly sleep in the nights.
Used abusive and foul language so much that beaten up and chained by the husband.
6 years back, she had a suicidal tendency and once took so much medicine at a time that almost died and went into coma for atleast a week and thereafter her thoughts started wandering about worldy pleasures- sex (from husband), good clothes, ornaments etc. etc.
Unfortunately, she did not enjoy conjugal bliss may be for the last 10 years or more. Her husband says he has simply no mind and cannot think of as he is mentally down and out because of her attitude (disease).
Recently, she ran away from home with only the clothes she had on her body and a very little money. After more than 3 months she telephoned to her parents and then returned home and of course in a very bad shape. The doctors said about 18 months back that her case had advanced so much not much could be done.
She uses abusive and foul language against her parents, husband, her two sons, her brothers and sisters and sisters-in-law and no body would like to keep her with them. Of course, she is presently with her parents (on her return).
Can you please guide me
1) if there are any medicines for the cure of this disease?
2) even if there is no cure, whether the symptoms can be brought
under reasonable control at this perhaps late stage?
3) How to make her take medicines?
4) what are the alternatives?
I don't like even the very thought of her wandering aimlessly on the unknown roads, becoming a living clown and becoming an object of fun.
I would be grateful if you can kindly give your advices on this matter and also if you need any further details that you would think necessary, please do advise.
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