Nick Reiner arrested on surveillance camera
Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner has been arrested following the death of the acclaimed Hollywood director and his wife Michelle Singer.
Nick Reiner, the son of Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner, who faces murder charges in his parents’ deaths, has been prescribed medication for schizophrenia, two sources told the Los Angeles Times. NBC News, citing three sources, reported that Reiner, the middle child of a prominent Hollywood director and his wife, had been diagnosed with a mental disorder several years ago and was receiving treatment for severe mental illness at the time of the crime.
The 32-year-old screenwriter and his family have been open about his past drug abuse, but this latest mental health update raises many questions ahead of the trial.
NBC News reports that Reiner’s medication was “changed or adjusted” shortly before Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner died. The name of the drug and the exact time when the liner was prescribed or the adjustment was made is unknown. USA TODAY has reached out to Reiner’s attorney for comment.
For those wondering about the possible link between schizophrenia, substance abuse and violence, we break down what we know about the condition (and how to further de-stigmatize mental illness).
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a lifelong psychotic disorder that affects less than 1% of the U.S. population, yet it is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses. It affects the way people think, feel and behave, and is most commonly characterized by delusions and hallucinations, impaired cognitive thinking, difficulty interacting with others, and can make it difficult for some, but not all, people to receive treatment or hold regular jobs.
If left untreated, schizophrenia can lead to consequences such as drug use, homelessness, social isolation, and even suicide. Some studies have linked schizophrenia to violence and mass shootings, but psychologists warn that the relationship between schizophrenia and violence is often oversimplified and is rarely causal.
The exact cause of this disorder is unknown, although it is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, common symptoms include visual hallucinations and thought delusions in which people with schizophrenia see or hear things that deviate from reality.
Others may experience what psychologists call negative symptoms, such as anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), emotional blunting (lack of expressing or responding to emotions), or withdrawing from relationships or work. These symptoms tend to be more difficult to manage.
Certain treatments have been shown to help control symptoms. Antipsychotic medications can reduce hallucinations and delusions, and therapy and rehabilitation can address specific concerns by teaching cognitive skills and strengthening social skills for interacting with others.
Is schizophrenia associated with violence when combined with substance use disorder?
Studies have linked schizophrenia to an increased risk of violent crime, particularly substance use disorders. “The association between schizophrenia and violent crime is minimal unless patients are diagnosed with comorbid substance abuse,” the researchers wrote in a 2009 paper in JAMA focused on Sweden.
A recently published JAMA Psychiatry study in 2022, which looked at data from more than 50,000 people in 15 countries, also points to this increased risk, although experts are unsure why this occurs.
Some studies have shown that antipsychotics may limit violent outcomes in patients, but more research is needed to determine whether the drugs can reduce violence to the same levels as in the general population.
Can schizophrenia drugs be used for other treatments?
Antipsychotics can be used off-label to treat many other mental health conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, substance abuse disorders, and PTSD.
Contributors: Edward Segarra, Jenna Ryu, and other USA TODAY staff
