NEW YORK, Posted 9:30 p.m. May 24, 1999 -- A new device offers an opportunity to walk in the shoes of a schizophrenic.
Janssen Pharmaceutica has recently developed, along with a panel of psychiatrists and mental patients, goggles that make this possible.
With this technology, patients and doctors get a chance to see the outside world through the eyes of a schizophrenic. Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses, doctors say.
Breakthrough hallucination technology offered by Janssen gives doctors and even family members of schizophrenics an opportunity to see the world as a schizophrenic sees it.
A pair of goggles are place over the eyes of a person (as pictured) wishing to experience life with this debilitating and baffling mental illness and a virtual hallucination program begins.
Janssen's research finds that an estimated that 2.5 million Americans suffer from this biological brain disorder.
In some news stories, schizophrenics are portrayed as having violent behavior, but research shows that schizophrenics are rarely a harm to others. The symptoms of this illness include, delusions, hallucinations and social withdrawal.
Dr. Stephen Goldfinger, of State University of New York Health Sciences, says understanding what the patient is going through is key to treating and understanding this mental illness.
"Sometimes it's not treating the hallucinations themselves that becomes critical, but treating the response of those who are having the hallucinations and who have to change the way they view the world based on these angry, hostile, frightening experiences inside of them," says Dr. Goldfinger.
This new technology attempts to do this.
"Imagine what it's like to try to be a productive part of the world outside when you're hearing voices telling you, 'Don't do that. Don't trust them. Don't listen to him. They're not really on your side They're out to get you,' " says Dr. Goldfinger.
The hallucination technology comes real close to the real life condition.
Ken Steele, a schizophrenic, says he suffered with audio and visual hallucinations for more than 30 years. He is being treated with Risperdal, an antipsychotic medication.
"The Virtual Hallucinations technology is very real and will benefit psychiatrists and professionals in so many ways. It will give them insights that they have never, never had before," Steele says. "It will actually take them inside the minds of schizophrenic patients."
Darlene Jeter, Special to Internet Broadcasting Systems
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