Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Negative Impact of the Misdiagnosis of Schizophrenia upon Patients, Their Families, and Their Caretakers

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Schizophrenia Is a Misdiagnosis

Abstract

Functionally psychotic patients misdiagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder are most likely to suffer from an undiagnosed psychotic mood disorder or, in a few percent, an unrecognized organic psychosis (Chap. 14 ; Tables 14.1 and 14.2). In either situation, such patients receive substandard care with increased morbidity and mortality. Without a correct diagnosis of a mood disorder, patients are unlikely to receive first-line mood-stabilizing medications, i.e., lithium, valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and lamotrigine (Lamictal)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anderson, J. (2002, February 26). Witness testifies Yates was insane. Associated Press. www.beliefnet.com/news/2002/03/Witness-Testifies-Yates-Was-Insane.aspx

  • Angst, J., Weis, P., Grof, P., Baastrup, P. C., & Shou, M. (1970). Lithium prophylaxis in recurrent affective disorders. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 116, 604–614. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. (2006). Children murdered by their Christian parents memorial page. http://myth-one.com/memorial.htm

  • Artaloytia, J. F., Arango, C., Lahti, A., Sanz, J., Pascual, A., Cubero, P., Prieto, D., & Palomo, T. (2006). Negative signs and symptoms secondary to antipsychotics: a double-blind, randomized trial of a single dose of placebo, haloperidol, and risperidone in healthy volunteers. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 488–493. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, J., Johnson, K., & Kovaleski, S. F. (2011, January 11). Police say they visited Tucson suspect’s home even before rampage. The New York Times. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, J., & Gross, J. (1998, June 19). From mental illness to Yale to murder charge. The New York Times. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleuler, E. (1911/1950). Dementia praecox or the group of schizophrenias. New Yrok: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourget, D., Grace, J., & Whitehurst, L. (2007). A review of maternal and paternal filicide. Journal of American Academic Psychiatry Law, 35, 74–82. (Chap. 15).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer, W. F., Bakalar, N. H., & Lake, C. R. (1987). Anticholinergic prophylaxis of acute haloperidol-induced acute dystonic reactions. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 7, 164–166.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braxton, A. (2011, March 7). Murder/Suicide shocks seventh ward neighborhood. Fox 8 TV, New Orleans. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Calabrese, J. R., Shelton, M. D., Bowden, C. L., Rapport, D. J., Suppes, T., Shirley, E. R., Kimmel, S. E., & Caban, S. J. (2001). Bipolar rapid cycling: Focus on depression as its hallmark. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 62(Suppl 14), 34–41. (Chap. 15).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, B. (2011, June 31). Expert on mental illness reveals her own fight. The New York Times. (Chap. 16, Table 16.31).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, G. A., & Goodwin, F. K. (1973). The stages of mania. A longitudinal analysis of the manic episode. Archives of General Psychiatry, 28, 221–228. (Chaps. 1, 8).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, W., McGlashan, T., & Strauss, J. (1977). The treatment of acute schizophrenia without drugs: An investigation of some current assumptions. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 14–20. (Chap. 15).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casey, D. E. (1988). Affective disorders and tardive dyskinesia. L'Encéphale, XIV, 221–226. (Chap. 15).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fazel, S., Gulati, G., Linsell, L., Geddes, J. R., & Grann, M. (2009). Schizophrenia and violence: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Medicine, 6, 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foderaro, L. W. (2000, May 12). Man who killed fiancée is sent to mental hospital. The New York Times. (Chap 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershon, S., & Yuwiler, A. (1960). Lithium ion: A specific psychopharmacological approach to the treatment of mania. Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 1, 229–241.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, F. K. (1989). The biology of recurrence: New directions for the pharmacologic bridge. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 50, 40–44. (Chaps. 8, 9, 10, 18).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, F. K., & Jamison, K. R. (1990). Manic-depressive illness. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, F. K., & Jamison, K. R. (2007). Manic-depressive illness. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartocollis, A. (2007, May 24). Writer is convicted in sex attack on former colleague. The New York Times. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Insel, T. R. (2010). Rethinking schizophrenia. Nature, 468, 187–193.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jimenez-Jimenez, F. J., Garcia-Ruiz, P. J., & Molina, J. A. (1997). Drug-induced movement disorders. Drug Safety, 16, 180–204. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K., Kovaleski, S. F., Frosch, D., Lipton, E. (2011, January 10). Alarm grew at suspect’s disturbing behavior. The New York Times. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessing, L. V., & Anderson, P. K. (2004). Does the risk of developing dementia increase with the number of episodes in patients with depressive disorder and in patients with bipolar disorder? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 75, 1662–1666. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lake, C. R. (2008c). How academic psychiatry can better prepare our students for their future patients: Part I: The failure to recognize depression and risk for suicide in primary care; problem identification, responsibility and solutions. Behavioral Medicine, 34, 95–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lake, C. R. (2008d). How academic psychiatry can better prepare our students for their future patients: Part II: A course in ultra-brief initial diagnostic screening suitable for future primary care physicians. Behavioral Medicine, 34, 101–116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lake, C. R., & Baumer, J. (2010). Academic psychiatry’s responsibility for increasing the recognition of mood disorders and risk for suicide in primary care. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 23, 157–166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Longman, J. (2010, December 10). John E. du Pont, 72, dies; killed athlete. The New York Times. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandal, V. (2002, October 7). Families of mentally ill pay terrible toll: Psychiatric patients are killing and assaulting their families at an alarming rate. Vancouver Sun. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, D. (2009, December 1). The case of Otty Sanchez. The StandDown Texas Project. (Chap. 15, Table 15.53).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, D. (2010, January 13). Gone baby gone. The Texas Observer. (Chap. 15, Table 15.53).

    Google Scholar 

  • McEvoy, J. P., et al. (2005). Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: baseline results from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) schizophrenia trial and comparison with national estimates from NHANESIII. Schizophrenia Research, 80, 19–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pini, S., Cassano, G. B., Dell’Osso, L., & Amador, X. F. (2001). Insight into illness in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mood disorders with psychotic features. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 122–125. (Chaps. 8, 9).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pope, H. G. (1983). Distinguishing bipolar disorder from schizophrenia in clinical practice: Guidelines and case reports. Hospital & Community Psychiatry, 34, 322–328. (Chaps. 1, 8).

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, R. M. (1992). Transduction of psychosocial stress into the neurobiology of recurrent affective disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 999–1010. (Chap. 8).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Post, R. M. (2007). The case for polypharmacy in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Psychiatric Times, 24, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, R. M. (2010). Overlaps between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Psychiatric Annals, 41, 106–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prien, R. F., Caffey, E. M., Jr., & Klett, C. J. (1972). A comparison of lithium carbonate and chlorpromazine in the treatment of excited schizo-affectives. Archives of General Psychiatry, 27, 182–189. (Chap. 9).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prien, R. F., Klett, C. J., & Caffey, E. M., Jr. (1973). Lithium carbonate and imipramine in prevention of affective episodes: A comparison in recurrent affective illness. Archives of General Psychiatry, 29, 420–425.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prien, R. F., Kupfer, D. J., Mansky, P. A., et al. (1984). Drug therapy in the prevention of recurrences in unipolar and bipolar affective disorders: Report of the NIMH Collaborative Study Group comparing lithium carbonate, imipramine, and a lithium carbonate-imipramine combination. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 1096–1104.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quitkin, F. M., Kane, J., Rifkin, A., et al. (1981). Prophylactic lithium carbonate with and without imipramine for bipolar I patients: A double-blind study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 902–907.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosack, J. (2006). Patient charged with murder of schizophrenia expert. Psychiatric News, 41, 1. (Chap. 15, Table 15.51).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schou, M. (1967). Therapeutic and prophylactic action of lithium aga. Activitas Nervosa Superior, 9, 440. (Chap. 15).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schou, M. (1968). Special review: Lithium in psychiatric therapy and prophylaxis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 6, 67–95. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schou, M. (1979). Lithium as a prophylactic agent in unipolar affective illness: Comparison with cyclic antidepressants. Archives of General Psychiatry, 36, 849–851. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sernyak, M. J., Griffin, R. A., Johnson, R. M., Pearsall, H. R., Wexler, B. E., & Woods, S. W. (1994). Neuroleptic exposure following inpatient treatment of acute mania with lithium and neuroleptic. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 133–135. (Chap. 15).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, D. R., Quitkin, F. M., & Fleiss, J. L. (1989). Response to maintenance therapy in bipolar illness: Effect of index episode. Archives of General Psychiatry, 46, 401–405.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shopsin, B., Kim, S. S., & Gershon, S. (1971). A controlled study of lithium vs chlorpromazine in acute schizophrenics. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 119, 435–440. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swartz, C. M. (1995). Tardive psychopathology. Neuropsychobiology, 32, 115–119. (Chap. 12).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, P., & Kendall, T. (2009). The spurious advance of antipsychotic drug therapy. The Lancet, 373, 1007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, D. (2002, March 15). The murder conviction of Andrea Yates: A tragic case, a barbaric verdict. World Socialist Web Site. (Chap. 15, Table 15.53).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehr, T. A., & Goodwin, F. K. (1987). Can antidepressants cause mania and worsen the course of affective illness? The American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1403–1411.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, R. (2004). The case against antipsychotic drugs: A 50-year record of doing more harm than good. Medical Hypotheses, 62, 5–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wikipedia. (2011). On-line encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org.2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarate, C. A., Jr., & Tohen, M. (2004). Double-blind comparison of the continued use of antipsychotic treatment versus its discontinuation in remitted manic patients. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 169–171. (Chap. 15).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas, School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, 66160-7341, USA

    C. Raymond Lake M.D., Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus)

Authors
  1. C. Raymond Lake M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Raymond Lake M.D., Ph.D. .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lake, C.R. (2012). The Negative Impact of the Misdiagnosis of Schizophrenia upon Patients, Their Families, and Their Caretakers. In: Schizophrenia Is a Misdiagnosis. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1870-2_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1870-2_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-1869-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-1870-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation