Schizophrenia is a significant mental illness that usually occurs in people aged 15-30, and affects more than 200,000 people in the UK. Researchers believe that heritage and environment are involved in the development of schizophrenia. The schizophrenic individual is affected by unusual hallucinations, visual and auditory hallucinations, uncontrollable bodily experiences and feelings of forced actions.
In an effective treatment, it is important to conduct a diagnosis early on and to quickly initiate a good treatment strategy to halt the disease from developing any further. Although the treatments have improved in recent years, only 1 in 5 overcome the illness. The treatments include new medications, psychotherapy and social psychiatric support and activation. There is no cure for the illness, but treatment can relieve the symptoms.
A group of English researchers have investigated the effects of a high dose of vitamin B in schizophrenic patients. The researchers conducted a so-called ‘meta-analysis’ – an analysis of several scientific studies on one particular effect, where almost all knowledge about the subject has been collected into one.
This analysis showed that vitamin B had a symptom relieving effect on schizophrenia. High doses of vitamin B, herein B6, B8 and B12, were associated with a significant reduction in symptoms. Moreover, a vitamin pill, containing different vitamins but with high doses of vitamin B, was shown to be able to provide the same positive effects. A low dose of vitamin B, however, showed no useful effects. The effects were greatest when the supplement was given early in the course, where the patient had only been affected by the symptoms for a brief period.
Even though the meta-analysis is based on no less than 18 studies with a total of 832 schizophrenic study participants, there are still uncertainties about this effect. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further research studies to be able to establish this association with vitamin B and schizophrenia, and why such an effect is seen.
References:
- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315866.php
- http://www.psykiatrifonden.dk/viden/diagnoser/skizofreni-og-andre-psykoser/skizofreni.aspx
- https://www.livingwithschizophreniauk.org/facts-and-figures/
