Complex by definition, schizophrenia is characterized by the inability or the severe difficulty one has in:
• Distinguishing between reality and illusion
• Thinking logically
• Developing normal emotional responses
• Engaging in normal behavior
Symptoms of the disease generally include auditory hallucinations, delusional paranoia and scattered speech and thought processes. The disease impacts and can significantly impair a person's capacity to connect with others, keep a job, take public transit, maintain a residence and much more. In addition to the direct symptoms, individuals with schizophrenia are at greater risk of abusing substances and committing suicide, as well as struggling with poor physical health.
Treatment for schizophrenia involves regular use of medication. It depends on the individual, but some mixture of antipsychotic, antidepressant and anti-anxiety medicine may be the best course. Due to harmful and/or intolerable side effects, up to 75% of all people on these drugs stop using them without telling their doctor. Newer, atypical antipsychotic medications have been designed to minimize unwanted effects, but the fall-off rate is still high.
It is vital that those suffering from schizophrenia continue taking their medications, because treatment of the illness is the only known long-term option. Put simply, there is no cure, per se. But medicine is only half of the equation. Therapy is another vital facet of treatment. Individual psychotherapy is not the preferred method, yet it is one option. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT has been shown to be successful in the management of schizophrenia as well. By working on a person's negative thought patterns, positive results can and will ultimately manifest in that person's life.
Group therapy, too, is important and perhaps the most effective treatment method. In these supportive sessions patients learn how to make real-life goals, and to focus on problems and potential remedies. Group therapy is valuable in that people get the support they need by talking through their thoughts and feelings while working to minimize social isolation. It is, in effect, a way to help patients learn to socialize in a positive, effective manner.
Family therapy is another solution, as it can help reduce stress within a household, teach coping mechanisms and improve support in an all-around sense. Rates of poverty, joblessness and homelessness are higher among people with schizophrenia, but these are, with the appropriate treatment and support, not inevitable outcomes. It is crucial for families to build and maintain a positive network so that a loved one who suffers from schizophrenia has somewhere to turn when times are most challenging.
Since treatment is the best cure for schizophrenia, medication will likely be a matter of long-term routine. Therapy - perhaps individually but definitely in a group setting - is also imperative. In addition to gaining support from the therapist, other patients and/or friends and family, people with schizophrenia learn to interact socially and may even learn job skills. This is not a homogenous world. There are avenues for success available to all people regardless of their mental state. With the proper schizophrenia treatment, support and understanding, most people living with this disease can move on in spite of it and learn to live fulfilling lives.
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Author Stephen Daniels highly recommends Dr. Ron Zedek, http://www.drzedek.com for psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for schizophrenia. He is also available to help with anxiety disorders, panic attacks, depression, or any combination of mental health issues. This nationally recognized psychiatrist has over 12 years experience treating mental health issues for patients in and around Las Vegas.
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