Summary
A parent says their adult son has lived with mental illness for twelve years and wants relief from hearing voices. He has seen the same psychiatrist for a decade, and the parent asks what other help may be available.
The response cannot recommend medication without knowing the diagnosis and suggests discussing continuing symptoms with the psychiatrist or seeking another professional consultation.
It describes psychosocial support as potentially useful alongside medication depending on the diagnosis, and mentions educational, vocational, group and family resources such as NAMI.
Question
Reader · Identity withheldMy son is 28 years old has had a mental illness for 12 years now. He just wants to stop hearing voices. He has been seeing the same psychiatrist for 10 years.
Answer
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.Your question is both very short but very complicated. First, I cannot tell you about other drugs for the simple reason that I am not a psychiatrist, do not know your son, do not know his diagnosis and would never do such a thing over the Internet because it is not proper. However, I will offer advice based on my experience and opinion.
Twelve years is a long time to see one psychiatrist. If you son, now 28 years of age, wants a consult with a new psychiatrist, he should do so. It would be a good idea. It is true that there are new medications and there are also combinations of medications that help a lot.
An awful lot depends upon your son’s diagnosis because there are many conditions that can produce hallucinations. However, assuming that he has either schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, he needs not only medication but psychotherapy types of treatment.
For example, and again, assuming that its schizophrenia, your son could benefit from being in a Continuing Day Treatment program where patients participate in group therapy, vocational counseling and psycho education whereby they learn about their illness and how to reduce stress and prevent relapses.
It would be a good idea for you and him to look up NAMI, the National Alliance for Mental Illness. It can be found at: NAMI
Another excellent site is: schizophrenia.com where there is lots of information for you and him.
For families of those with mental illnesses there is also FAMI or Families for the Mental Illness. This can be found under NAMI.
Lastly, he or both of you could ask for a meeting with the present psychiatrist and discuss with him together the need for newer medications, the problems of the voices and how to get additional psychotherapy help. It is permissible to ask for a consult with another psychiatrist.
I hope this helps.
Best of Luck
Subject matter expert
Rick Hanson Ph.D.
Neuropsychology, mindfulness, and relationships
View experience