In India, the onset of severe mental illness like Schizophrenia is often met not with a trip to the psychiatrist, but with a pilgrimage. When a young mind begins to fracture, families searching for answers frequently turn to faith healers, Babas driven by a cultural belief. As a Psychiatrist in Mohali, I see the tragic cost of this delay. One case that stands out involves a brilliant college student from Mohali, whose journey highlights the devastating impact of long-standing, untreated schizophrenia.
What are early signs of Schizophrenia?
Rohan was twenty years old engineering student in Mohali, when his family first noticed the changes in his behaviour. It started with what we call the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. He stopped attending classes, stopped stepping out of his room, and lost the outgoing energy that had once defined him. His family assumed it was severe academic stress. Then, after few weeks, the positive symptoms emerged. Rohan began hearing voices — auditory hallucinations that whispered constant, terrifying threats. He developed deep delusions, convinced that his professors and classmates were part of an elaborate conspiracy against him. Frightened and confused, his parents didn’t know where to turn.
The tragedy of untreated Schizophrenia?
Instead of seeking expert psychiatrist in Mohali, the family was advised by relatives to take Rohan faith healers in and around Mohali. For nearly three years, Rohan’s schizophrenia went entirely untreated. He was subjected to various rituals, torturous treatments, amulets, ceremonies and told that his illness was result of a curse. During this critical window, his cognitive decline accelerated. The untreated neurochemical storm in his brain deepened his psychosis, making him increasingly aloof, aggressive, thin and entirely disconnected from reality.
The Turning Point: Science Intervenes
When Rohan first walked into my clinic, he was highly suspicious, heavily guarded, and was talking to his own self. He did not establish eye contact with me, was gazing in space as if he was looking for something hidden. As per history provided by parents and clinical examination, I was a clear cut and treatable case of Schizophrenia. Treating long-standing schizophrenia requires a delicate balance of medical intervention and profound empathy. Because Rohan lacked insight into his condition, daily oral medication was going to be a significant hurdle. He had a history of throwing pills away, convinced they were poison.We designed a comprehensive, multi-layered treatment protocol:
1) Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics (LAIs): To bypass the struggle of daily pill compliance, we transitioned Rohan to a Long-Acting Injectable antipsychotic. Administered just once a month in the clinic, this ensured a steady, reliable stabilization of his brain chemistry without the daily battle at home.
2) Intensive Psychoeducation for the Family: We had to help his parents unlearn years of misinformation. We taught them to view schizophrenia as an illness like diabetes — a biological condition requiring lifelong management, not a spiritual failing.
3) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): As the medication stopped the terrifying voices, we introduced regular psychotherapy. Therapy provided Rohan with the tools to rebuild his college life and process the trauma of his lost years.
Rohan’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human brain. It is also a critical reminder: psychiatric conditions require psychiatric care by Dr Parag Sharma psychiatrist in Mohali. While faith can heal the spirit, it takes science to heal the mind. If you see the signs of severe mental illness in a loved one, do not wait. The sooner we intervene, the more of their life we can save.