Treatment of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder. People with schizophrenia may have perceptions of reality that are different from the reality seen and shared by others around them. People with schizophrenia may hear voices, other people don’t hear or they may believe that others are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. Although schizophrenia is a chronic disorder but with support, medication, and therapy, many people with schizophrenia are able to function independently and live satisfying lives.

Treatment of Schizophrenia is following:

• Antipsychotic drugs are the best treatment now available. Antipsychotic medications reduce the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and usually allow the patient to function more effectively and appropriately. The large number of people with schizophrenia show substantial improvement when treated with antipsychotic drugs.
• Rehabilitation programs may include vocational counseling, job training, problem-solving and money management skills. These are important for the success of the community-centered treatment of schizophrenia. Therapy or rehabilitation therapy can help a person regain the confidence to take care of themselves and live a fuller life.
• Psychotherapy can add structure and confidence to the patient’s life, increasing their ability to perform daily activities and chores on their own. In the case of therapy, some research has shown that psychotherapy and medication can be more effective than medication alone.

• Group therapy, combined with drugs, is also better than drug treatment alone, particularly with schizophrenic outpatients. Positive results are more likely to be obtained when group therapy focuses on real-life plans, problems, and relationships.

• Individual psychotherapy involves regularly scheduled talks between the patient and a mental health professional. Recent studies indicate that supportive, reality-oriented, individual psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral approaches can be beneficial for outpatients with schizophrenia. Family therapy can also significantly decrease relapse rates for the schizophrenic family member.

Tags: Brain Disorders, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenia Prevention, Schizophrenia Treatment