Rage

Hi,
My friend has schizoaffective disorder and I am considering being more involved in his treatment. He lately seems to be angry all the time. It scares me. What I don't understand is why he can't seem to let go of the anger/rage? It is so repetitive. Lately it is about others who he feels has done him wrong. He says he would never hurt me.
I know the voices are fueling the anger as well as extreme stress and other issues. Are there any medications that seem to help better with the anger? He is on Lithium/Invega.
Thank you

Ha ha ha.

Ahem, sorry. Actually, I believe this is one of those issues of schizophrenia that is less neurobiological, and more psychological or at least blurs the line. It's very common.

What's happening is he can't stop ruminating over things. They say the worst form of irritation is repetition. If it annoys you, imagine what it's doing to him seeing as it is actually inside his head.

From experience this problem he is having is more a 'schizo' problem than an 'affective' one. Schizophrenia is now believed to be one part neurobiological, and one part psychological stemming from various (and varying) factors depending on the individual. One issue with treating schizophrenia is if the neurological part is not under control via medication or what have you, the psychological issues are not only virtually impossible to address, but it's pointless, really. He's taking, and tolerating, a very heavy combo of meds though so I'm betting he's all good there.

The good news is that it sounds like he is on medication which he is responding to (he doesn't need anymore), so from personal experience the best thing he can do with the ruminations is to learn how to control them himself. Medication can't solve everything. With that combo, if meds could solve everything they would have by now. The are actually techniques designed specifically for this sort of thing that are taught to people with schizophrenia who struggle with it, and should be very easy to find no matter what your area.

CBT is one that immediately springs to mind, and I know there are many others.

If he can't do it on his own, he'll have to see someone who will help him learn. If he wants to, that is. I'd be careful how you approach him, though. I don't like how people who share the same disorder as me get talked about like "how should I handle blah blah" like they are children or objects even though I'm certain that isn't their intention.

Each and every time someone has approached me saying "we're going to do this" in a patronizing voice I gave them a swift kick in the nuts, or ovaries, whichever applied. Then of course sometimes they'd switch to a more tough-love approach after which I'd sever their heads. Yeah, people stopped doing it after a while.

Good luck.