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Nick Reiner\u2019s arrest caught on surveillance camera<\/p>\n
Nick Reiner, the son of Rob Reiner, was arrested following the death of the acclaimed Hollywood director and his wife, Michele Singer.<\/p>\n
Nick Reiner<\/a>, the son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner who is facing murder charges in the deaths of his parents, has been prescribed medication for\u00a0schizophrenia<\/a>, according to two sources who spoke to\u00a0The Los Angeles Times<\/a>. NBC News<\/a>, citing three sources, reported that Reiner, the middle child of the acclaimed Hollywood director and his wife, had been diagnosed with the mental health disorder years ago, and was being treated for serious psychiatric disorder at the time of the crime.<\/p>\n While the 32-year-old screenwriter and his family had been open about his previous substance abuse<\/a>, this mental health update is newly public \u2013 and raises plenty of questions heading into a trial.<\/p>\n Reiner’s medication was “changed or adjusted” shortly before the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, according to the NBC News report. The name of the drug and the exact timeline of when Reiner was given the prescription or adjustments were made are not known. USA TODAY has reached out to Reiner’s attorney for comment.<\/p>\n For those wondering about schizophrenia and substance abuse, and any possible link to violence, we break down what we know about the conditions (and how to not to further stigmatize mental illness).<\/p>\n What is schizophrenia?<\/p>\n Schizophrenia is a lifelong, psychotic disorder\u00a0that affects\u00a0fewer than 1% of the U.S. population,<\/a>\u00a0but is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses.\u00a0It affects how people think, feel and act and is most commonly characterized by delusions and hallucinations, impaired cognitive thinking and difficulty socializing\u00a0with others, which can make it difficult for some \u2013 but not all \u2013 to access treatment or keep a steady job.\u00a0<\/p>\n If left untreated, schizophrenia can result in outcomes such as\u00a0substance use, homelessness, social isolation and even suicide.\u00a0Some research has linked it to violence or mass shootings<\/a>, however psychologists warn\u00a0the relationship between schizophrenia and violence is<\/a>\u00a0often\u00a0oversimplified<\/a>\u00a0and rarely ever causal.<\/p>\n The exact causes of the disorder \u2013\u00a0likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors \u2013\u00a0are unclear. But common symptoms\u00a0include\u00a0visual hallucinations and\u00a0thought delusions,<\/a>\u00a0in which those with schizophrenia see or hear things that deviate from reality.<\/p>\n Others\u00a0may\u00a0also experience what psychologists\u00a0call negative symptoms,\u00a0such as anhedonia (the failure to experience pleasure),\u00a0flat affect (the lack of emotional expression or reaction) or they may withdraw\u00a0from relationships and work. These symptoms tend to be more difficult to address.\u00a0<\/p>\n Certain treatments have been proven to help\u00a0keep symptoms\u00a0at bay. Antipsychotic medications\u00a0can\u00a0reduce\u00a0hallucinations and delusions, while\u00a0therapy and rehabilitation<\/a>\u00a0can address specific concerns by teaching\u00a0cognitive techniques\u00a0or enhancing\u00a0social skills to\u00a0interact with others.<\/p>\n