Nick Reiner was reportedly being treated for schizophrenia before the double murder of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Schizophrenia doesn’t necessarily make someone more prone to violence, an expert tells PEOPLE<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
She says medication changes are common and “could increase the risk of recurrence or exacerbation of symptoms”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Nick Reiner<\/a> was reportedly being treated for schizophrenia<\/a> before the shocking double murder of his parents, director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner<\/a>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Los Angeles Times<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0KNBC<\/a>\u00a0both reported, citing sources, that Nick was being treated with medication for the mental illness. According to NBC, Nick, 32, was first diagnosed with schizophrenia years ago.<\/p>\n Schizophrenia is a widely misunderstood \u2014\u00a0but treatable \u2014 condition, characterized by symptoms of psychosis, psychiatrist Dr. Molly \u201cMary\u201d Conlon<\/a>, who oversees the inpatient program at Northwell Health\u2019s Zucker Hillside Hospital, tells PEOPLE. (Conlon is not connected to Nick Reiner or his treatment or case.)<\/p>\n \u201cPsychosis is a term that really encompasses a broad range of experiences,\u201d Conlon explains. \u201cTypically, this includes changes in a person’s thoughts, perceptions, or beliefs and can lead to symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, suspiciousness, and social withdrawal.”<\/p>\n “People can experience disorganized thinking and speech and changes in their movements. They can also experience lack of motivation, social withdrawal, and cognitive changes, including challenges with memory, attention and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n George Pimentel\/WireImage<\/p>\n Nick Reiner in Toronto in 2015.<\/p>\n During an episode of psychosis, \u201ca person’s thoughts and perceptions are disrupted, and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not,\u201d Conlon says.<\/p>\n But, she says, \u201cmost people with psychosis are not violent. In fact, individuals with psychosis are far more likely to be victims of violence themselves, and are actually more likely to harm themselves, than to harm others.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople living with schizophrenia are no more violent than the rest of the population if they are receiving effective treatment and not misusing alcohol or drugs,\u201d Conlon says. However, certain drugs \u2014 like methamphetamines, hallucinogens and synthetic cannabinoids \u2014 can cause psychosis. (At this time, there is no evidence that Nick was using other drugs.)<\/p>\n The effective treatment for schizophrenia includes medication, which often needs to be adjusted. Conlon calls medication changes \u201cvery common\u201d and says they require close monitoring \u201cto ensure that there’s not a re-emergence or worsening of symptoms when you’re in the middle of a medication change because it is going to be a bit of a more vulnerable time.\u201d<\/p>\n She emphasizes that such changes “could increase the risk of recurrence or exacerbation of symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n Lock Stock\/Getty<\/p>\n Stock image of someone taking medication.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"George](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/017533bc36b2ff8ac6d1430d76770fbd.jpeg\"\/)
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