Get Dr. Lesk's book here: https://a.co/d/28ByKEL
In September of 2024, the FDA approved the first new schizophrenia drug in three decades. Does the new medication, Cobenfy, herald a much-needed new era of schizophrenia treatment? Psychiatrist Dr. Steven Lesk says it might. But even as we examine its promise there is much about the condition that needs to be discussed. What causes schizophrenia? Is it a genetic glitch or are environmental factors at play? A combination of the two? Whatever the reason, what medication and course of action will give the patient the best chance at a normal life?
Of all the mental illnesses, schizophrenia eludes us the most. Despite the strides scientists have made in neurological research and doctors have made in psychiatric treatment, schizophrenia remains misunderstood, almost complacently mythologized. Without a reason for the illness, patients feel even more alienated than they already do, families are left hopeless, and doctors struggle to provide effective care, armed only with medications that have such devastating side effects that many patients who desperately need them stop taking them.
Recently retired from an almost forty-year medical career dedicated to caring for those affected by schizophrenia, Dr. Steven Lesk offers a theory that sheds light on schizophrenia’s origins and paves the way for its eventual eradication. What’s more, it could affect what we can do to help people with other dopamine-related illnesses like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s chorea, Tourette’s, and ADD.
Steven Lesk, MD, was a practicing, board certified psychiatrist for almost four decades, treating thousands of adult patients while researching, writing articles, and mentoring students. He served as Chairman of the Department of Inpatient Psychiatric Services at the Brooklyn VA Hospital and was assistant professor at the hospital’s affiliated medical school. He lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota. His book has received great reviews, including this one:
“In this provocative debut, psychiatrist Lesk excavates the origins of schizophrenia and outlines possible treatments for it and other dopamine-related mental illnesses…This is a fascinating study that never sacrifices complexity or interest, and a welcome resource for those eager to learn more about the disease and its roots.”—Publishers Weekly
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