MavisMaeContributor
Schizophrenic child. No upside from here
Hi, I'm new to the forum.
Our middle kid turned 18 on Saturday. It was his second birthday in a row in the local adolescent psychiatirc unit. His diagnosis over the last year has gone from "probably a psychotic episode" to "treatment-resistent schizophrenia". This is his fourth admission. He's just been moved out of the high-risk part of the unit after seven weeks. He has no insight at all, and is an expert at noncompliance even on the ward. He is very smart and each time he's been before the mental health tribunal has held it together enough to avoid the long-term or depot treatment order he needs in order to get stable. He's absconded three times from the secure area. When he's unwell he is frightened and belligerent; last admission he got himself to the unit at 2am armed with a [sharp kitchen implement] for self-protection. Luckily they recognised him on the CCTV and talked him into going round to the ED with a security guard and a nurse he knew, and without the [word forbidden by forum]. The family was never brilliant and all the holes are showing now. I'm frightened he will never become well enough to have a decent shot at life. I'm terrified he will have an early end. I'm resigned to my marriage limping on for a few years more and the family just dispersing.
