TREATMENT
An integrative approach to treatment is also necessary to ensure the best prognoses in patients with Schizophrenia. It is also important to note that treatment rarely entails a complete recovery. The purpose of the treatments applied is mostly to improve the quality of life of the individual and the people that surround him/her. The combination of medications and psychosocial therapy (or cognitive-behavioral therapy) results in the best prognoses for this disorder.
Collaborative Psychopharmacology:
- Antipsychotic medications are used to treat the symptoms that cause the most distress, while lesser medications (must be revised so pharmaceutical interactions do not worsen the symptoms) are used to treat secondary symptoms such as depression (prevalent in people with schizophrenia because of the distress that this disorder brings about).
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Assertive Community Treatment:
- Providing community support for the people with this disorder improves their recovery. It is encouraged that caregivers of these patients have a small caseload (number of patients), and that the patients are treated in a community setting under constant observation.
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Family Psychoeducation:
- Providing help for the families of the affected is also important, since they are also heavily affected by the disorder. It is crucial to educate them on the nature of the disorder and how best to react to it. This way, stress is reduced because they know how to approach it, and social support can be given to the patient.
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Supportive Employment:
- Creating a supportive environment so the person with the disorder may find a meaningful job that will not be put a risk due to the disorder.
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Illness Management and Recovery:
- Actively involving the patient in the treatment is also highly beneficial, since they obtain a sense of control over the development of their disorder. This includes teaching the patient about the disorder, teaching the patient how to effectively use medicine, and how to cope with the disorder during acute symptomatic episodes.
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- D.G. Cunningham Owens, Patrick Miller, Stephen M. Lawrie, Eve C. Johnstone. (2005). Pathogenesis of schizophrenia: a psychopathological perspective. The British Journal of Psychiatry Apr 2005, 186 (5) 386-393; DOI: 10.1192/bjp.186.5.386
- Mueser, K., & Marcello Duva, S.(2010-12-14). Schizophrenia. In The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Psychology. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 5 Dec. 2017, from http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195366884.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195366884-e-022.
