Schizophrenia and Modern Treatments
Shelby Kaseman
University of Toledo
Mental illnesses are becoming more and more prominent in the lives of people today. The most common of these illnesses are mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. However, schizophrenia, which is not a mood disorder, affects the lives of many people as well. Treatment is a very important part of any illness, but this is especially true when it comes to schizophrenia. Without the proper treatment, people dealing with schizophrenia can have an exceptionally hard time functioning on a daily basis and in the community. Over the past few decades, many different options have been developed to help those who suffer from schizophrenia. These treatments combat the symptoms that patients with schizophrenia deal with. Medication is the foundation on which treatment of schizophrenia is based. Oftentimes, medication is combined with one or several types of psychotherapy to help the patient deal with their illness the best that they can. Antipsychotics are the most common and most effective type of medication used to treat schizophrenic patients. They are “effective in suppressing specific positive symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations, delusions, and thought disturbance” which is why they are the most popular type of medication for schizophrenic patients (Shean, p.140). The main goal of antipsychotics is to effectively control symptoms at the lowest dosage possible. This type of medication
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
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
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).
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.
Schizophrenia is an extremely complex mental disorder that has yet to be fully understood. This particular disorder has affected much of the population today, causing many different emotional, physical, and psychological problems in every affected individual. These symptoms include: “distorted thoughts, hallucinations, and feelings of fright and paranoia. Psychiatrists evaluate symptoms, tests, and medical history, and prescribe medications and psychotherapy for treatment” (Kirkpatrick). Schizophrenia affects approximately 2.4 million adults in the United States today (We Live With...). Schizophrenia should be thought of as a neurological disorder with emotional and cognitive symptoms, rather than pure insanity.
The treatment of schizophrenia varies. Many patients are treated with drug. Current treatment modalities are somatic and psychotherapeutic which were performed in many different ways that associates with drug treatment. The somatic treatments for schizophrenia are all based on drug therapy and pharmacology (de Meduna). Of course, there have been previous approaches of treatment. Psychosurgery, which had been rejected, includes electro convulsive therapies, insulin coma, and various treatment that involved immersion in hot or cold baths. The pharmacological therapies currently applied all have scientific proof of their effectiveness, although the results of these studies have also provided that when drugs are stopped, relapse may occur
Medication has been the most successful treatment by far. Antipsychotic drugs do little for helping the patient understand and deal with various aspects of their illness. Because of this, psychotherapy is absolutely necessary along with medication. Alarmingly, a recent study shows that only a third of schizophrenia patients are getting the correct
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.
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that cannot be cured but there are various types of treatments that are available for lifetime support. Some of which are, Coordinated Specialty Care treatment which is aims at improving the quality of life by giving psychosocial therapies, family involvement, and education support. These specialists will give a certain type of treatment plan to the patients for them to follow and work together to make therapy decisions. Psychotherapy, and this treatment is a way to help patients understand their illness and manage their symptoms better. There are also different types of psychotherapy called Cognitive Behavioral
Many people around the world may have Schizophrenia in their genes and won’t even realize it until it’s too late. Stress can trigger the gene and cause the person to become schizophrenic. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that causes a person to behave, think, and see the world differently from other people. There are many different ways to treat the disorder but there is no cure. When treated properly, many people with schizophrenia are able to enjoy life and function within their families, friends, and loved ones. If you don’t treat this condition, you could possibly harm yourself, harm others or worse, end your life. With the help of doctors, therapist, and loved ones, anything is possible to treat.
schizophrenia and gain the full permission of the medical team supporting the client. Part of that
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.
They accomplish this by prescribing one or more antipsychotic drugs. For the drugs to work effectively, the patient must comply with the physician orders by closely adhering to dosing instructions and schedule. Even when patients start feeling better, they should still continue to take their medicine. If they stop, their delusions will probably come back. The choice and dosage of medication can be made only by a qualified physician. Antipsychotic medications reduces the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions and usually allows the patient to function more effectively and appropriately. These medications have the ability to diminish the hallucinations, agitation, confusion, and delusions of a psychotic episode. Even when patients with schizophrenia are free of psychotic symptoms, many still have difficulty with communication and establishing and maintaining relationships with
Schizophrenia is a well-known emotional and mental disorder that causes hallucinations, and paranoid and delusional behaviour (Hoffer, 2004). In contrast to many other diseases, schizophrenia is mostly due to genetics and influenced by the environment. People who suffer from this disorder usually cannot differentiate from the imaginative world from the real one. Schizophrenia is often a result of stress and develops gradually (DeLisi, 2011). It is therefore, essential to start early treatment of the disorder. To better understand Schizophrenia, one must know the symptoms, the treatments, the prognosis and the effect the disease has on the schizophrenic and others around them.
Another route towards treating schizophrenia is the medication route. The main drugs used to treat schizophrenia are antipsychotic drugs (Schizophrenia, Mayo Clinic). The drug’s main goal is to try and maintain a healthy level of dopamine in the brain (Some examples include: Asenapine, Brexpiprazole, Paliperidone, etc.) (Schizophrenia, Mayo Clinic). Research has shown that the use of antipsychotic drugs seems to be working effectively for some patients but not for others (Schizophrenia, Web MD). However, one major problem that can come up after using prescription medications to treat schizophrenia can be relapsed once the patient stops using their medication (Schizophrenia, Web MD). Another negative aspect of medications are the potential side