Medicines should be delivered to psychiatric patients.
Stating that there are drugs that individuals who receive psychiatric treatment need to drink regularly and continuously, experts state that their drugs should be delivered to them quickly, in case the pharmacies are demolished, in case they are left without medication. Emphasizing that images such as the rescue scenes shown on television suddenly reveal bad feelings in rescued people, Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen; He points out that individuals whose homes have been destroyed and their relatives lost may show a grief reaction as well as trauma, and recommends treatment.
Üsküdar University NP Etiler Medical Center Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen made evaluations about the possible situation of psychiatric patients who experienced earthquake trauma and shared his recommendations for both patients and their relatives.
Medications should be delivered to psychiatric patients
Emphasizing that psychiatric patients need more support after the earthquake they experienced, Psychiatry Specialist Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen said, “The most important thing is that many people left their possessions under the rubble, and the medicines of these people may have been left under the rubble. Therefore, there may be an unpleasant situation such as not being able to use their medications. As with all kinds of chronic diseases, there are medications that a person undergoing psychiatric treatment should take regularly and continuously. It is very likely that these people have been without medication for a certain period of time because the pharmacies have been demolished. If there are psychiatrists who are there to help or who are alive and working in the hospital, they need to deliver these drugs quickly. As the state also shares information, they can obtain their medicines before the time of the report expires and without seeing a doctor.”
Images in the media can bring out bad feelings
Erkmen, who advises people who do not live in the earthquake area but whose trauma is triggered, to apply to specialists as soon as possible, said, “Unfortunately, there are people who have experienced similar things for other reasons. One of the most important causes of mental trauma is the sudden onset of symptoms. Images like rescue scenes shown on television suddenly bring out bad feelings in people who have been saved. Therefore, these feelings can manifest themselves in the form of remembering that moment and feeling very bad, seeing that it is under a dent in a dream, or reacting intensely while watching earthquake scenes.
Emotions change according to the trauma experienced
Stating that the feelings of individuals who have been traumatized in other ways may not be the same, Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen said, “For example, the feelings of someone who has been abused are not the same as the expression of the feelings of those who were crushed in the earthquake. However, these symptoms may occur in those who have to stay indoors in various ways. At the same time, the destruction of one’s home and the death of relatives is not only trauma, it can also be a serious grieving reaction. In this case, it should definitely be considered and treated.”
Extra duties fall on patient relatives
Underlining that the relatives of the patients have extra duties during this period, Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen said, “Patient relatives should make an effort so that the sick person can obtain their medicines. Especially patients with mental illness, which we call psychosis, may have difficulty in obtaining medication, so patient relatives should support sick people. Under those conditions, the increase in the psychiatric disorder of the patient puts the relatives of the patients in a difficult situation. If the patient’s condition does not improve with medication, they should immediately consult a psychiatrist.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
