Cognitive Function Improved by Reducing Antipsychotics

Kermit Cole
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A 28-week randomized controlled study by researchers in Japan, Canada and the United States finds that a 50% reduction of risperidone or olanzapine significantly improved cognitive function in patients with a schizophrenia diagnosis. The paper was published by Schizophrenia Bulletin.

Abstract →

Takeuchi, H., Suzuki, T, Remington, G., et al; Effects of risperidone and olanzapine dose reduction on cognitive function in stable patients with schizophrenia: An open-label, randomized, controlled, pilot study. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 39(5), 993-998. Online July 1, 2013. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbt090

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Kermit Cole
Kermit Cole
Kermit Cole, MFT, founding editor of Mad in America, works in Santa Fe, New Mexico as a couples and family therapist. Inspired by Open Dialogue, he works as part of a team and consults with couples and families that have members identified as patients. His work in residential treatment — largely with severely traumatized and/or "psychotic" clients — led to an appreciation of the power and beauty of systemic philosophy and practice, as the alternative to the prevailing focus on individual pathology. A former film-maker, he has undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology from Harvard University, as well as an MFT degree from the Council for Relationships in Philadelphia. He is a doctoral candidate with the Taos Institute and the Free University of Brussels. You can reach him at [email protected]

8 COMMENTS

  1. Who could have predicted such an outcome?

    Guess I’m glad there’s research to support this, but anyone with a half a brain and one eye to observe with would see that “antipsychotics” impair cognitive functioning. It would be like an experiment to see if leaving food on the floor attracts ants. The result is obvious without the experiment.

    — Steve

    • Which means that psychiatrists and the supposed “mental health system” will always have people to practice on. I guess I would call it job security.

      I’m almost to the point of believing that many psychiatrists know the effects of these poisonous drugs on the brains of human beings. They know how the drugs destroy lives, if they have half a brain and one eye as someone else posted; but they keep on keeping on with the drugging. It keeps people quiet so that our society doesn’t have to deal with the problems that are rampant and it brings money into peoples’ fat bank accounts since drugging people means that they will always remain patients due to the drugs and the learned helplessness that the supposed “mental health system” perpetuates.

      • Have you looked into the Doctors eyes? I see hate. Hate of mental illness?, maybe hate of stupidity.
        That the psychiatric drugs are contributing to the stupid behavior is not considered. Medicine can only do good things! It’s medicine not drugs!
        Doctor enjoys hating? helping his/her patients?

        A drug dealer sees a drug addict needing more drugs.

        The drug dealer gave them the drugs in the first place.

        Circular logic says “Give them more drugs for their drug addiction.”

        • markos2.
          I rarely mention the eye connection because I think a lot of people don’t have the ability or not cognizant of their ability.
          And yet we say “the eyes are the window to the soul”
          When it comes to sensing, one could perhaps ‘reason’, that the thought came before the view, and merely connected them or that it is projection.
          Even psychiatrists look into people’s eyes and make judgements based on that.
          I think we long forgot the very important senses. A shrink is quite aware that a lot/all of his patients can see his mind, or some traits.
          They would prefer if we did not use our sense.
          If we were ever on the same level, and they were strictly the service they are, perhaps interesting dialogue could happen.

  5. I live with bi-polar disorder type 1. My experience is that antipsychotics do impair how I think and feel, and I do agree that there is over-medicating going on out there. The reality is that a lot of mental health patients are addicts, and have that mentality. So they use their medications like drugs. It’s sad, but it is true.

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