Schizophrenia Caused Patient to Drop Out of University Twice; Long-Acting Injectable Helps Return to Campus
A patient who dropped out of university twice due to schizophrenia has stabilized and returned to their studies after switching to a long-acting injectable. A survey shows that while 90% are aware of the disease, misconceptions and stigma persist, with half of the respondents feeling hesitant about how to interact with patients.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 17:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 17:32 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 19:31 (1h 58m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th, Reporter Tseng Yi-ning) Kobayashi (pseudonym) began experiencing persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations in high school and dropped out of university twice because of it. Although he received oral medication, it felt like a constant reminder of his illness. Fortunately, with the help of a long-acting injectable, his condition has stabilized, allowing him to return to campus and a normal life.
Dr. Huang Jeng-yi, a member of the policy committee of the Taiwanese Society of Social and Community Psychiatry and vice superintendent of the Bali Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, shared at a health education press conference today that Kobayashi originally took oral medication. However, due to the psychological pressure of 'taking medicine every day is like a constant reminder of being sick,' he interrupted treatment several times, and his condition fluctuated. Fortunately, after using a long-acting injectable, his condition gradually stabilized.
Dr. Huang explained that schizophrenia mostly occurs in young adulthood. It is not just a 'mental illness' but a brain disease. In the past, because it was called 'spiritual splitting,' it was easily mistaken for dissociative identity disorder, but this disease is actually a condition where the brain's thinking and feeling become uncoordinated, thus requiring medication to restore balance.
Notably, Dr. Huang said, if compared to stroke, another brain disease, both can be treated when they first occur. But with the second and third relapses, brain atrophy becomes more pronounced. Therefore, the 2 to 5 years before the onset of the disease is the golden period for treatment. In addition to continuous medication, community psychiatric rehabilitation is another major pillar of support for schizophrenia patients.
According to the results of the 'Dual-Generation Mental Health Literacy Survey on Schizophrenia' announced by Dr. Ouyang Wen-jen, director of the teaching and research department at Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, a survey of 1068 questionnaires from people aged 15 to 45 in Taiwan showed that as many as 90% have heard of schizophrenia. However, 24% of Gen Y (people aged 30 to 45) still mistake schizophrenia for 'split personality.'
In terms of attitude, the survey found that if relatives, friends, or colleagues were patients, as many as 89% of people are willing to interact normally, actively learn about the condition, and even accompany them to medical appointments, showing an overall friendly atmosphere. However, 51% of people admitted to feeling worried about how to interact, being able to interact but feeling nervous and scared, or tending to keep a distance. About 8% even chose to avoid contact altogether.
As for those who choose to keep a distance or do not know how to interact, the survey shows that it is mostly due to misunderstanding and fear of the disease, such as worrying about saying the wrong thing and provoking the other person (71%), fearing that the other person will lose control (54%), or simply lacking knowledge about the disease (46%).
Rapper OSN, serving as the health education ambassador for this event, said that he didn't know much about schizophrenia in the past and only realized 'it's actually very close to us' after learning more. He was very moved that over half of the public is willing to accompany those around them to seek medical help and hopes to continue promoting the message 'Dysregulation can be re-regulated, the pain won't rewind; even if you're temporarily dysregulated, I will slowly help you re-regulate.' (Editor: Lee Shu-hua) 1150514
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Dr. Huang Jeng-yi, a member of the policy committee of the Taiwanese Society of Social and Community Psychiatry and vice superintendent of the Bali Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, shared at a health education press conference today that Kobayashi originally took oral medication. However, due to the psychological pressure of 'taking medicine every day is like a constant reminder of being sick,' he interrupted treatment several times, and his condition fluctuated. Fortunately, after using a long-acting injectable, his condition gradually stabilized.
Dr. Huang explained that schizophrenia mostly occurs in young adulthood. It is not just a 'mental illness' but a brain disease. In the past, because it was called 'spiritual splitting,' it was easily mistaken for dissociative identity disorder, but this disease is actually a condition where the brain's thinking and feeling become uncoordinated, thus requiring medication to restore balance.
Notably, Dr. Huang said, if compared to stroke, another brain disease, both can be treated when they first occur. But with the second and third relapses, brain atrophy becomes more pronounced. Therefore, the 2 to 5 years before the onset of the disease is the golden period for treatment. In addition to continuous medication, community psychiatric rehabilitation is another major pillar of support for schizophrenia patients.
According to the results of the 'Dual-Generation Mental Health Literacy Survey on Schizophrenia' announced by Dr. Ouyang Wen-jen, director of the teaching and research department at Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, a survey of 1068 questionnaires from people aged 15 to 45 in Taiwan showed that as many as 90% have heard of schizophrenia. However, 24% of Gen Y (people aged 30 to 45) still mistake schizophrenia for 'split personality.'
In terms of attitude, the survey found that if relatives, friends, or colleagues were patients, as many as 89% of people are willing to interact normally, actively learn about the condition, and even accompany them to medical appointments, showing an overall friendly atmosphere. However, 51% of people admitted to feeling worried about how to interact, being able to interact but feeling nervous and scared, or tending to keep a distance. About 8% even chose to avoid contact altogether.
As for those who choose to keep a distance or do not know how to interact, the survey shows that it is mostly due to misunderstanding and fear of the disease, such as worrying about saying the wrong thing and provoking the other person (71%), fearing that the other person will lose control (54%), or simply lacking knowledge about the disease (46%).
Rapper OSN, serving as the health education ambassador for this event, said that he didn't know much about schizophrenia in the past and only realized 'it's actually very close to us' after learning more. He was very moved that over half of the public is willing to accompany those around them to seek medical help and hopes to continue promoting the message 'Dysregulation can be re-regulated, the pain won't rewind; even if you're temporarily dysregulated, I will slowly help you re-regulate.' (Editor: Lee Shu-hua) 1150514
Stand with the facts. Your every sponsorship is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's 'First-Hand News' APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.