Ways Of Treatment Schizophrenia - Essay Example

? Schizophrenia SCHIZOPHRENIA Schizophrenia is best understood as a mental disorder that is characterized by poor emotional responses and breakdown of the process of thought. Common symptoms of the disorder include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech, which are accompanied by occupational or social dysfunction. Onset of Schizophrenia occurs in early adulthood and diagnosis is based on reported experiences and observed behavior. It is classified as a psychotic disorder, and most of its symptoms are those of psychosis. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of schizophrenia. Symptoms of Schizophrenia Symptoms of Schizophrenia can be positive, negative or cognitive. Positive symptoms are those symptoms possessed by the patient that normal people do not exhibit (Coon et al, 2010). The first is delusions, which are false beliefs that are not sensible taken in the context of the patient’s culture. Hallucination is another positive symptom, which involves false sensory experiences with no basis in the external environment. They occur when one is fully awake and sober. They include visual, sensory, auditory and ocular hallucinations. Disorganized speech is also prevalent in Schizophrenic cases with words linked together without reference to language rules based on puns, rhymes and sounds. Finally, the patient also undergoes catatonic behavior whereby their behavior is not goal-directed and is nonsensical in the context, for example, laughing at inopportune moments for no reason. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are those traits that are reduced or absent in the patient (Coon et al, 2010). They include a flattened effect where they appear emotionless and show little response to disturbing images or situations. The patients also undergo anhedonia where they fail to express or experience pleasure in activities they once enjoyed. They also have reduced speech and a lack of initiative, also known as avolition. The cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia involve the manner in which a person thinks (Coon et al, 2010). These include a difficulty in maintaining attention, problems with keeping memory, difficulty in structuring and planning activities, and a lack of insight. Effects on the Brain For centuries, it was suspected that schizophrenia was a disorder of the brain. This has been proven through research. One effect that schizophrenia has on the brain is a significant loss of gray matter. Patients portend a reduced gray matter volume in the brain, especially the frontal and temporal lobes. Neuroscientists have discovered a loss of up to 25% in various areas of the brain. Patients who have the worst loss of tissue also have the worst schizophrenic symptoms like depression and hallucinations. Schizophrenia also causes enlargement of the brain ventricles and enlarged amygdale. Enlarged amygdale is accompanied by an increase in the number of white matter hyper-intensities (Coon et al, 2010). Schizophrenia causes neurological abnormalities and impaired cognitive function. Impaired cognitive function is also seen in those suffering from manic-depressive disorder. Impairment of cognitive function in the brain will lead to impairment of verbal memory and information processing (Coon et al, 2010). Additionally, schizophrenia will cause a patient to show a decreased function in their prefrontal brain function, which is used for thinking about oneself and for planning. Finally, it leads to an impaired awareness of illness, with 50% of schizophrenic individuals having impaired knowledge that they are ill. These individuals never realize that they are sick, which causes them to refuse voluntary treatment. Studies are suggestive that this is probably related to a decrease in the function of the prefrontal lobe of the brain (Coon et al, 2010). Effects of Schizophrenia on the Individual The effects of schizophrenia, initially, are limited with only a slight change in behavior being noticed, which is not considered disruptive at this time. However, over time, especially if ignored and not treated, the disease can portend a massive and negative impact on the individual’s life and the lives of those around them. Possible effects of schizophrenia on the individual include straining of relationships (Coon et al, 2010). Schizophrenics will usually be isolated and normally undergo withdrawal, which has a drastic and significant impact on the relationship between them and their friends and relatives. In cases where paranoia is present, the affected individual becomes suspicious, sometimes even hostile; to those that he or she is related. Schizophrenics also carry a risk of suicide attempts and all mentions of suicides by schizophrenics need to be taken with the utmost seriousness (Coon et al, 2010). It is important to have a care worker or doctor look into it. The individual also begins to have problems with alcohol and drug abuse as they seek to relieve their symptoms by self-medicating. The situation is referred to as dual diagnosis. Schizophrenics who are also heavy smokers will turn to smoking with no knowledge that smoking reduces the effectiveness of their medication since tobacco smoke is a known inhibitor of psychotic drugs, thus reducing the ability of the medication to manage their symptoms (Coon et al, 2010). Because of the disruptive nature of its symptoms, the patient will find it difficult to carry out normal activities. The hallucinations and delusions that the patient suffers from prevent him/her from caring about personal hygiene, shopping or even driving. Treatment of Schizophrenia Because schizophrenia can be couple to other conditions and the mysterious nature of its causes, current methods of treatment are grounded in both experience and clinical research (Coon et al, 2010). The approach is chosen on its ability to reduce the symptoms inherent in schizophrenia and to lessen chances of a relapse. Available medications that are used on schizophrenic patients include Aripiprazole, Quaetiapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Haloperidole, Clozapine, and Chlorpromazine (Coon et al, 2010). Antipsychotic medication is used to reduce symptoms inherent in schizophrenia that resemble those of psychosis, and they allow the patient to function more appropriately and effectively. While antipsychotic drugs are the best treatment for schizophrenia that are now available, they are not a cure, and they do not ensure the curtailment of any future episodes of psychosis (Coon et al, 2010). Most people with schizophrenic symptoms show a substantial improvement after treatment with antipsychotic medications. Sometimes, people suffering from schizophrenia may become depressed, causing other symptoms to become worse. These symptoms may improve if the individual is put on anti-depressant medication. Alternate Treatment of Schizophrenia and Ethical considerations One alternate method of treating schizophrenia may include rehabilitation programs such as social skills training, how to utilize public transportation, problem-solving skills, job training and vocational counseling (Coon et al, 2010). These approaches are especially useful for community-centered treatment during the treatment of schizophrenia. Individual psychotherapy is another alternative method that involves regular scheduling of visits to a mental health professional, for example, a nurse, psychiatric-social worker, psychologist, or a psychiatrist. Supportive individual psychotherapy that is reality oriented and based on cognitive-behavioral approaches, which aim to teach the individual how to solve problems and coping skills can benefit schizophrenic outpatients (Coon et al, 2010). However, it cannot substitute antipsychotic drugs and is most of help when the drugs have first relieved the individual’s psychotic symptoms. Family education is another alternative mode of treatment since patients are released from hospital into the family’s care (Coon et al, 2010). It is important that they learn as much as they can about schizophrenia, as well as understand the problems and difficulties faced by patients. Finally, self-help groups can be used as an alternative mode via peer and family support, as well as advocacy groups. These provide assistance and information to families and patients with schizophrenia. Clinicians treating schizophrenics encounter various ethical issues, especially with alternative methods of treatment. While it is vital to attain informed consent from the patient, this may present specific challenges for schizophrenic patients. Schizophrenia is a severe disease of the brain that frequently presents with neuropsychological deficits. Consequently, these symptoms, coupled to psychotic symptoms and a lack of insight may affect the ability of a patient to make decisions that are informed fully concerning their own care (Coon et al, 2010). Making sure that treatment consent is competent, voluntary and informed becomes a difficult endeavor. Cultural Influences on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Schizophrenia Cultural aspects can have a significant influence on schizophrenia diagnosis. The socio-cultural context moderates relationships, which exist between the expressed emotions in families, as well as the clinical outcomes of schizophrenia. Expressed emotions can be defined as a qualitative measure of displayed emotion in a family setting, normally through the member or care-provider of the patient. Clinical outcomes are also dependent on the socio-cultural context (Coon et al, 2010). This is caused by cultural nuances as related to various family factors, as well as the cultural adaptation of all accepted regimens of treatment available. Self-compassion is related to cultural differences and the manner that these differences affect the treatment and diagnosis of schizophrenia. Self-compassion involves being understanding and kind to oneself during times of failure or pain and perceiving personal suffering as part of human experience (Coon et al, 2010). There is a significant increase in the acceptance of general concerns of mental health with a better understanding, without judgment, and mindfulness. Therapeutic practices of healing, in the midst of different cultures, flourish worldwide. Treatment using psychotherapy in accordance with the client’s values, worldviews and context is more empowering and adaptive to the patient, making them amenable to the intervention (Coon et al, 2010). Schizophrenia can inform on culture due to its effect on the central manner of integrated functioning of self-structures that are responsible for producing, regulating, and interpreting one’s cultural behavior. Schizophrenia can be tied to the expectations concerning human and self-subjectivity, encompassing things such as self-career, self-functioning, self-awareness, and self-concepts. Haslam’s theory on genetic comprehension of human diversity and its problematic consequences on society contend that essentialist mode of thought can deepen social divides and make differences look larger than expected (Coon et al, 2010). This puts the social effects the processes that implicate social and cultural attitudes. Religious affiliations and its associations with social functioning, social well-being, and mental health, also affect schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion Schizophrenia is a degenerative disease of the brain that presents with psychotic symptoms, as well as depression. Symptoms inherent in schizophrenics can be positive, negative, or cognitive. These include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech, as well as memory and attention deficits. Its effects on the brain are debilitating gray matter recession, neurological abnormalities and impaired cognitive function. Possible effects of schizophrenia on the individual include straining of relationships, suicide attempts and drug abuse. Symptoms of schizophrenia can be treated with antipsychotics and antidepressants, as well as alternate methods, which are, however, an ethical gray area due to the inability of the patient to consent. Finally, socio-cultural factors have a profound effect on diagnosis and treatment, especially family settings and religion. References Coon, Dennis. Mitterer, John. Talbot, Shawn. & Vanchella, Christine. (2010). Introduction to psychology : gateways to mind and behavior. Belmont : Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Read More