IV. Treatment- There are many beneficial treatment methods for schizophrenia. Of the most common treatment methods is the antipsychotic drug therapy. “A study done in 2013 of 43,049 patients, they compared the effectiveness and tolerance of fifteen antipsychotic drugs. The study found that all fifteen antipsychotic drugs were significantly more effective than placebos.” (Cetin, 2015, p.97) It has also been a well-known fact that those diagnosed with schizophrenia and not taking any antipsychotic medications experience the symptoms of hallucination and delusions which are unable to be treated through therapy alone. This is why it is important that patients with schizophrenia not only use therapeutic treatment but antipsychotic medications as well. Another form of therapy that is important for schizophrenics is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavior therapy can be beneficial because it provides the patient with education about the causes of their hallucinations, helps the patient learn when and how to expect their own symptoms and how to prepare for them, how to interpret those hallucinations, and then how to cope with the hallucinations and delusions with techniques such as breathing and relaxation techniques. This type of therapy helps the patient gain better control of their hallucinations and delusions. “Cognitive behavioral therapy, as a specific treatment in addition to routine pharmacological and supportive care, impacts acute and chronic positive and
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that places considerable burden on the individuals who have it, their families, and society (Eack 2012). Someone who has schizophrenia may have the following symptoms, but not all: faulty perceptions, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation (Oxford Dictionary). The two most commonly used interventions are drug and family intervention. Often times patients with a
By taking the time and educating ourselves, we are eliminating possible misconceptions about the illness. Working with people that have a mental disorder is the best way to understand how and why they act the way they do. While the cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, it is believed that both genetics and environmental factors play a role. Schizophrenia consists of five subtypes; paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual. Symptoms can range from hallucinations to delusions, and disorganized thinking. Since there is no cure for schizophrenia, treatment is aimed at controlling the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. By starting with a single antipsychotic medication and evaluating the efficacy in four to six weeks, they are able to determine if that medication will work or if they need to try a different one. Once they find out what works, they must adhere to it. Through improved public awareness society can break the pervasive stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illnesses that stand in the way of finding cures and help people with schizophrenia lead full lives they
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that is the base of several psychological symptoms. There are many people out there who suffer from this disorder and have no idea on how to cure it. Some people tend to spend their whole life with this disorder; whilst others get it treated as soon as they see first sign or symptom of it. Schizophrenia is not a disorder that cannot be treated; with the right kind of treatment, the disorder can be controlled and the individual suffering from it can be cured. The paper will discuss the schizophrenia disorder in detail, causes, risk, signs & symptoms, and treatments of it.
How is schizophrenia treated? What symptoms would we see with someone who is schizophrenic? What nursing interventions would we put in place? Treatment would include antipsychotic medications such clozapine a second-generation antipsychotic, it may take at least 6 weeks for full effect. Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and assertive community treatment and supportive therapy may be provided. Symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and catatonia may be noted. Interventions would include keeping environment quiet and as free of stimuli as possible, use simple words and keep direction simple, introducing tactics that can lower anxiety and minimize voiced and worrying
Schizophrenia occurs in people from all cultures and from all walks of life. Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects a small portion of the population in the world. When schizophrenia is active there are many different symptoms that can appear. Some symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and concentration, and lack of motivation. When these symptoms are treated, most people with schizophrenia will improve over time with treatment. With the different studies we are able to see how schizophrenia works in different ways. The different ways being what is happening in the brain when a person has schizophrenia. Along with the different treatments from counseling to medication what works better.
Drug therapy is the most common treatment, using antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic drugs aims to help patient function as well as possible and increasing patient’s feelings of well being.
Recent studies indicate that limiting the use of certain medications can improve a senior's life. One study, conducted by researchers at Indiana University, finds that the prolonged use of anticholinergics may cause physical changes within the brain that could lead to dementia. Furthermore, The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) released information related to a program it started in 2014: This study examined how the discontinuation of antipsychotic medications affected the seniors who were taking them to treat dementia. The results indicate that seniors’ lives may improve when antipsychotic medications (that are being used to treat dementia) are discontinued.
As we have seen, treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotic drugs can have impressive results in terms of decreasing active symptoms, although it does nothing to alleviate negative symptoms or to improve cognitive functioning. Unfortunately, this kind of treatment has the drawback of extremely serious and even fatal side-effects. Newer generation atypical antipsychotics offer more hope, as they can treat both active and negative symptoms, and also improve cognitive functioning. Moreover, they have fewer side-effects. However, treatment is complicated by the fact that results are unpredictable; and in addition the side-effects that they do have can be very serious, such as diabetes, which in itself is life-threatening. However, as the potential side-effects are known, the physician has leeway to choose a drug which is a good match for the patient’s clinical profile. Then, once the patient’s symptoms have been much alleviated with an appropriate newer generation atypical antipsychotic, the patient should be able to also benefit from a range of psychotherapeutic interventions. It is argued that this is the best treatment regime to choose, as it is likely to result in the greatest improvement in quality of life, coupled with the lowest risk of potentially devastating side-effects, or of death. This is likely to be better than utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, the results of which are not reliably known – although research has certainly shown that it is less efficacious
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects more than one percent of the population. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and concentration, and lack of motivation. However, when these symptoms are treated properly, a large portion of those diagnosed will greatly improve over time.
Patients with Schizophrenia can have symptoms that vary from hallucinations, to bad hygiene. They can experience delusions and disorganized thoughts. They are normally depressed and can cause self-harm. The treatments for Schizophrenia includes medications, Electroconvulsive Therapy and therapy. Therapy for these patients can be individual or group. The therapy sessions can help teach these patients how to be social and it can show them how to deal with the voices or hallucinations. Medications for schizophrenia are called antipsychotics. The medications help curb the symptoms of schizophrenia. The down fall to the medications is most people stop taking them. It is not uncommon for the “voices” to talk the patient out of taking them. Electroconvulsive
Hallucinations, delusions and dysfunctional thoughts are all signs of the chronic and severe mental illness called Schizophrenia. Psych Central (2016), states scientist belief genes play a role in the diagnoses of Schizophrenia. While one gene is not specifically responsible, numerous genes are. Treatments include injections and medications taken by mouth (usually pill or liquid form). It is also recommended to go to talk therapy and even family therapy, so the individual feels like they are being understood by their loved ones. Schizophrenia can be detected in early childhood or they might become Schizophrenic later in life. Early warning signs include a change in personality, hygiene and appearance. Individuals can also develop an extreme
Treatment of schizophrenia may vary according to what clinicians believe to be its causes. For example, some believe (and this is backed by evidence) that the condition is caused by over activity of the dopamine system, so that the person experiences too much stimulation. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, so that in effect too much activity is occurring in the brain. Clinicians who believe this is the case are likely to use drug therapies to correct this over activity, and will use antipsychotic drugs.
Schizophrenia is known to be a devastating brain disorder that negatively affects many aspects of a person’s life, such as; thinking, language, emotions, social behavior, and ability to perceive reality (Varcarolis, 2010). Due to the high comorbidity of schizophrenia, patients often suffer from multiple disorders, when a mood disorder, such as mania, or depression, coexists with the schizophrenia, it is known as a schizoaffective disorder. Patient, A.S., is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder due to her hallucinations, her manic state and paranoia. The purpose of this paper is to form an individualized Care Plan for A.S. in accord with the evidence-based practice and clinical manifestations. It will include the patient’s history (past and present) along with the appropriate interventions. In the paper we will discuss schizoaffective disorder as well as well as the symptoms, thoughts, and actions of a schizoaffective person. Furthermore, the pathophysiology of schizophrenia will be explained thoroughly, followed with the medications and interventions used for this disorder. The hope is to better understand the aspects of schizoaffective disorder and its manifestations, so one better care for a patient with such a disease.
Antipsychotics are classified as major tranquilizers that are used to treat mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. They can also treat severe depression and severe anxiety. These antipsychotics drugs reduce or increase the effect of neurotransmitters in the brain to regulate levels that help transfer information throughout the brain. The neurotransmitters that are affected are the serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.
It has been proven by many sources that adjuvant therapy for people with schizophrenia has been know to reduce the negative signs of schizophrenia. According to an article, “ These findings suggest the probable efficacy of pioglitazone as an augmentation therapy in reducing the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.” (“effects of adjuvant therapy”). A different type of therapy that is used is called individual psychotherapy.. This type of therapy helps the person to learn how to deal with their emotions (Kurebayashi). During their sessions, the person will learn about the illness and how it affects him. The affected person will also learn how to tell the difference between what is real and what is not. Lastly, some other types of effective therapies are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and cognitive enhancement therapy (CET). These are only just a few examples of the types of therapy that affected people could be treated with. Thank you for letting tell