Behavioral Medication Analysis

According to current research , Schizophrenia is a mental health condition distinguished by vast harm in cognition that place intense limitations on functional recovery (Eack 1). Schizophrenic disorders normally are shown in adolescents or early adulthood and tend to occur in reclusive, isolated individuals ( Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 2). Because schizophrenia is such a problem in society and families, something should be done to help patients and families cope with this disorder (Jungbauer 605). Schizophrenia not only affects the patient , but also the family and community .

Townley, Greg (2015). “It Helps You Not Feel So Bad—Feel Like You Again”: The Importance of Community for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, pp 1-12

For many young adults, college is a time of great discovery as it presents them with an incredibly diverse assortment of people with whom they may mingle with. However, the mentally ill are often excluded from these interactions. Due to numerous misconceptions about their condition and the ensuing stigma that this creates, college students with a psychiatric disorder are left to endure unnecessary shunning from their peers. Fortunately, some universities have taken it amongst themselves to prevent this injustice from occurring, a prime example of which is the New Diversity Initiative program.

In the United States people who have a mental illness are often stigmatized by others which causes one to often lose out on many opportunities due to the lack of understanding and education of others as well as experiencing discrimination. Many who live with a mental illness want to work and to provide for themselves, however, due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness portrayed by the

Throughout history people who have a mental health illness are not accepted in society. The attitudes of people in society, for example the workplace, is an important measure of the success of that society. Segregating people with mental illnesses from society, by putting someone in a institute, contributed to the attitude that an individual with mental illness are not capable of participating or contributing in society. These negative stereotypes are often portrayed in media, and influence the stigma of mental health illness being dangerous. This controversial concept of dangerousness states that individuals with a mental illness are more dangerous than those without a mental illness. Various forms of discrimination and exclusion in society is still present today. If society begins to understand mental illness, then they will judge a lot less. Success in that society will come when society accepts other people who are different

Saratoga County no longer has safe, stigma-free, places for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to spend their days. SPMI individuals need somewhere to go where they can feel safe and can interaction with others. In the past SPMI Individuals in Saratoga County had the options of attending day treatment, going to a drop-in center called The Social Club, or spending the day being productive in a sheltered workshop environment. Over the past few years all of these options have been removed. First, The Social Club was closed. Next, the day treatment center was changed to a “PROS” model where services are limited, time specific, and the focus is on community integration. Lastly, state and county funding was cut for shelter workshop environments and funneled into work readiness programs focused on integrating SPMI individuals into the community workforce. Integration is a noble aspiration. However, many SPMI individuals do not have the capacity to successfully integrate into community settings. These individuals are better served in situations where their special needs are appreciated and met such as sheltered workshops, drop-in centers and day treatment. Thus, due to the closing or changes in these types of programs, Saratoga County no longer offers safe supportive places for many SPMI Individuals to spend their days.

Some organizations and groups have come up to create awareness and sensitivity on schizophrenia. These organizations offer support to both schizophrenics and their families, helping them to cope with the disease. The organizations also provide a means for the schizophrenics to meet, and share their experiences which give them a sense of belonging. They offer education concerning the disease to both schizophrenics and their families, and this helps in managing stressful situations in their lives.

The management of schizophrenia is complex and requires an “all-encompassing approach” which should be individualized to meet the needs of a particular patient (Schizophrenia Society of Canada, 2016, para. 5).

Psychiatrist D. Fuller Torrey, M.D., states Schizophrenia is the “modern-day equivalent of leprosy” (qtd: in Tartakovsky, 2014). There are harsh stereotypes surrounding those affected such as a higher level of danger, universal symptoms, predetermined traits, a need for hospitalization, and even, put simply by Demian Rose, M.D., Ph. D., a belief Schizophrenics are either psychotics or not. (Tartakovsky, 2014). These stigmas lead to extremely detrimental effects such as, more homeless sufferers, less job opportunities, a lower quality of life, lower self esteem, higher stress levels, and more symptoms (Corrigan, 1998). Like most problems, these stigmas could be corrected with a fairly basic understanding of Schizophrenia and how it affects its sufferers.

This self medication project taught me numerous things that I will continue to remember throughout my nursing career. I learned the importance of telling the client what medication they are taking and why because being in the dark on that is a bad feeling. I also learned that it is difficult to remember to take medications routinely. I was only prescribed one medication, but I’d imagine it’s even harder to remember numerous ones.

Schizophrenia is a life-long disorder that affects about one percent of the population (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). The cause of this mental illness is still unclear. Studies have suggested that Schizophrenia does not arise from one factor but from a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors (Liddle, 1987). People diagnosed with Schizophrenia struggle to deal with a multitude of symptoms that make it difficult to function (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Antipsychotic medications are a popular treatment of the symptoms of Schizophrenia (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Research is constantly being done to develop these medications to enhance the quality of life of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

Clearly, this is a very serious disorder, which is often utterly incapacitating. Therefore, individuals urgently require efficacious treatment, both for survival and for quality of life, and many different kinds of treatment and therapy are used. This paper will examine the use of two of these, cognitive behavioral therapy and drug therapy, and evaluate which one is better. It will take the position that drug therapy is a more effective therapy for treating schizophrenia than is cognitive behavioral therapy.

An extended psychosocial intervention should be offered to patients with Schizophrenia that will incorporate cognitive-behavioural strategies that can reduce use, help cope cravings and stress, avoiding relapse and a discussion of attitude change towards substance use (Bennett, Bradshaw & Catalano, 2016).

Intervention: Influence of medication reminder packaging (Automatic Pill Dispenser) on schizophrenic adult patients’ medication adherence behavior.

As the cause of schizophrenia is not yet fully understood interventions are based on both research and experience. Antipsychotic medications are commonly used. These can be effective in reducing psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, however do not guarantee absence of psychosis, nor do they cure schizophrenia. Unfortunately, antipsychotics have numerous side effects, which can be extremely difficult to manage, and about 50% of people with schizophrenia have shown poor adherence to treatment (Nose, Barbui & Tansella, 2003). Following recognition of the limitations of pharmacological treatment, more psychological interventions are available. By using a broader therapeutic approach, and a combination of interventions, each person’s health care can be individualised and addressed with a more holistic view. Adherence therapy is one such approach, in which support and management strategies are provided in order to improve adherence to medication. Some other commonly used psychological therapies include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), supportive psychotherapy, and family intervention therapy (Gray, White, Schulz, & Abderhalden, 2010).