A recent news report stated that prior to allegedly murdering his parents, Nick Reiner's medication for his diagnosis of schizophrenia was changed, causing his behavior to become increasingly erratic. I know nothing of this apart from the news report but feel there are facts to keep in mind.
1. Schizophrenia is often misdiagnosed with those suffering from addictive disorders.
2. While both schizophrenia and addiction have the same etiology, a weakness of basic ego capacities governing control of thinking and behavior because of faulty early developmental experiences, they are very different disorders since the weaknesses are far greater in schizophrenia though they may, briefly, look the same
3. Psychotropic drugs have wide ranging debilitating effects. Long ago a psychiatrist co-worker told me that during his psychiatric residency he took a small dosage of a psychotropic drug as an experiment and its profound effect caused him to be exceedingly cautious about prescribing them thereafter.
4. A long ago study found that most school shooters had been prescribed one or more psychotropic drugs.
5. The treatment of mental health and addiction disorders is sometimes governed more by financial gain than treatment value.
A story: There had been much stress in a teenager's divorced family and she was upset by an upcoming math test. After expressing suicidal ideation to a classmate, their guidance counselor was informed and it was advised that the girl be seen by her doctor. The doctor recommended evaluation at a psychiatric hospital which was done. Months later, whenever the mother wanted to bring her daughter home, the girl's diagnosis would be changed to indicate her need for further treatment. Understandably so since the hospital was being paid a substantial daily sum and, just as a car dealership needs customers, a hospital needs patients.
Feeling desperate, the mother described her dilemma to me. I advised her phone the hospital and say she was coming to bring her daughter home that day or would come with her lawyer. You can guess what happened. Her daughter's diagnosis was immediately changed to "improved" and she rode home with her mother. I spoke with the girl thereafter with her biggest worry being how her friends would relate to her after she'd "been in a crazy hospital." But they said only that they were glad to see her back.
This girl never should have been hospitalized. While suicidal ideation should be professionally evaluated, actual suicide is relatively rare, like the proverbial needle in a haystack. Almost everyone expresses suicidal ideation at some time in their life, its seriousness being determined by whether the statement is serious or metaphorical, the degree of self-control present, and whether the means for suicide (gun, drug, etc.) is present. It, like schizophrenia, autism, and other mental health concerns is often misdiagnosed. Sadly, ignorance of child psychological development and developmental psychopathology is widespread. Nuff said.