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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Squiggles on January 7, 2006, at 8:05:25
I just learned of this (Dr. Bob, you can
place it where you like - i thought it
required a prominent file):I am so sad to have just learned of this. I was hoping so much that Dr. Schou would get the Nobel Prize for psychiatry/pharmacology. He was
so devoted to his work and contributed so much to the field of mental illness. He was a pioneer. Those who know about lithium and bipolar illness will appreciate his great contribution and the importance of his work will remain fundamental in medicine .
I never knew him but I miss him as if I did.--------------------------
Mogens Schou, M.D., Dr. Med. Sci.
Honorary President
International Society for Bipolar Disorders
Emeritus Professor
The Psychiatric Hospital Risskov, Denmark
The International Society for Bipolar Disorders was saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Mogens Schou on Thursday, September 29th,
2005. Professor Schou, an Emeritus Professor at the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov, Denmark, exemplified the ISBD's vision for the future of
bipolar research and hence was named as the Honorary President of the Society. His devotion to his life's work reflects a true desire to help
others coupled with an intrinsic scientific curiosity, a spirit that
guides the ISBD towards fulfillment of its missionand objectives.
Professor Schou's contribution to the field of psychiatry came relatively early in the lithium revolution. Prior to lithium, sedatives, ECT and extensive use of restraints where the
main alternatives; however, lithium had the disadvantage of a very narrow therapeutic window, with ranges at which it yielded its
beneficial effects quite close to those at which it induced toxic effects. This coupled with a toxicity scare related to the use of
lithium in patients on sodium restricted diets, which resulted in some deaths, led to skepticism about its potential as a therapeutic agent.
Professor Schou's ability to monitor patients' lithium levels resulted in the successful use of lithium in clinical trials. In 1952 Professor
Schou and his associates gave lithium to their first manic patient, and subsequent studies confirmed the antimanic effect of lithium, earlier
observed in 1949 by John Cade. Schou's further studies helped establish remarkable, long term efficacy of lithium and paved the
way for its use as a prophylactic agent. Furthermore, the claims of lithium's efficacy were made for a non-sedative agent of very low cost.
Professor Schou's work helped to bring biological psychiatry to prominence by championing one of the first truly efficacious
medications for manic depressive illness, and along with his colleagues, helped to save lithium from its critics. Together with IGSLI,
an international research team he initiated, Professor Schou has studied the effects of long-term lithium treatment on mortality and suicidal behavior, as well as the genetics of
those who were excellent lithium responders.
Professor Schou has published more than 530 articles, books and book chapters and has received numerous honors and awards. He will be
remembered through the influence his work has had on today's researchers and clinicians and through the Mogens Schou awards presented at the biennial International Conference on Bipolar Disorder (ICBD) in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Samuel Gershon, past ISBD President and a close colleague of Professor Schou offers these words, "I knew Mogens Schou for 40 years
and we had a close personal and professional relationship. Although his
contribution to the field will leave a permanent and lasting legacy, the loss of his humanity and personal commitment to science and patientcare are irreplaceable."
/Squiggles
Posted by Toph on January 7, 2006, at 8:52:19
In reply to Dr. Mogens Schou passed away September 29, 2005, posted by Squiggles on January 7, 2006, at 8:05:25
I read this with a lot of interest Squiggles. After my first major manic episode I was diagnosed as a schizophrenic, my psychoses was controlled with such anti-psychotics as Thorazine and Haldol. Because of the side-effects I became non-compliant and had another major episode a year later. Fortunately I was assigned a psychiatrist who recognized my bipolar profile and began treating me with a lithium regimen. I resisted the diagnosis for a while and suffered the consequences. In 1981, my son was born and I finally realized that I could not longer deny my mental illness. Thanks to lithium (and evidently Dr. Schou) I have not seen the inside of a locked unit (other than in a professional capacity) in 25 years. I truely owe my life to the dedication and pioneering work of this gentleman and others. Thanks for sharing this with me.
Toph
Posted by Squiggles on January 7, 2006, at 9:11:56
In reply to Re: Dr. Mogens Schou » Squiggles, posted by Toph on January 7, 2006, at 8:52:19
Toph,
You were lucky. The same thing happened to me and
it was because of non-compliance to an antidepressant that my diagnosis was changed. Mania was considered an important tip preceded by
long low-depression. We have to thank the doctors for such insights and the lithium for
its remarkable stabilizing action.As for Dr. Schou, I am taking it hard.
I didn't find out until this morning by chance
looking at the upcoming Lithium Conference
in Toronto. I think that fact that he was
Danish, may have robbed him of the prominence
he deserved in the US (not as much in Canada)
or Australia of course because of his association
with Cade.My deepest gratitude to Professor Mogens Schou.
And I am glad you are one of his benificiaries,
as am I. His little guide (among hundreds of
articles and many medical books) for doctors and patients shows the human touch in a great
scientist.Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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