Treatment



Majority of schizophrenics use prescribed medication as their main treatment to rid the positive and negative symptoms associated with this disease. The figure listed above is a list of the common antipsychotics prescribed to reduce the initial feelings of anxiety or aggression. To minimize other symptoms such as hallucinations or delusional thoughts, usually long term regular use of medication is needed in order to see improvements.

As research has shown that an individual who suffers from schizophrenia will typically engage in substance abuse, then their recreational use of drugs can alter the effectiveness of their medication.

=Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) =

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to help patients identify negative thinking patterns that are causing them to have unwanted feelings and behaviours and hope to replace them with more realistic and useful thoughts (National Health Service, 2012). More specifically in schizophrenics, challenging and identifying delusional thoughts about oneself and avoid acting upon these thoughts is a goal of CBT. Yager (2004), conducted a study on monitoring the effects of CBT on schizophrenic patients and found that individual CBT has been found to enhance medication compliance and reduce symptoms, relapse, and rehospitalisation in patients with schizophrenia. Whether or not to treat the substance abuse or mental illness first, there is no right or wrong answer. CBT can be an effective approach in not only treating schizophrenia but possibly the psychosis associated with stimulant abuse and schizophrenia.

=Family Therapy =

This is an alternative psychotherapy that is not just effective for the individual but also for the family members of the individual. Recall that living and caring for an individual with schizophrenia puts a lot of strain on any family. Thus, being properly informed with how to deal with a schizophrenic experiencing an episode or cope with the pressures associated with being around someone with this disorder can alleviate stress. In family therapy, topics discussed include discussing information about schizophrenia, exploring ways of supporting somebody with schizophrenia, and deciding how to solve practical problems that can be caused by the symptoms of schizophrenia (National Health Service, 2012).

= Medical Treatments =

= = Medical treatments are the most common use for supressing the psychosis from occurring and troubling the individuals even more in their daily lives. The meds that are typically used are called neuroleptics or antipsychotics. When properly taking these drugs individuals are less likely to be routinely or even at all hospitalized and are able to live functionally. Although a common theme is individuals will start feeling better, and they will stop taking the drugs. This than causes a relapse of back into the symptoms of the disorder and therefore may be forced back into hospital. The same with using any drug to find the right dosage and type of drug takes time which in some cases hinders the individual rather than helping them. The drugs are given mainly as a pill, but in some cases they are taken as liquid or injections. Like most drugs it is said that there is a non-dependence liability to these drugs, and depending on the individual will depend on their need for how long they need to be on medication and what other treatment options are available for them (CAMH,2012).

When you mix the substance use and a diagnosis of schizophrenia it makes for a complex and complicated recovery treatment. What has been found though to work and make an impact for recovery for these individuals would be a combination of psychological services so looking at how it affects their way of thinking and dependence whether that involves therapy or medications or a combinations, and is usually combined with community supports so things like peer support groups are most beneficial for these types of clients. Keeping in mind though not everything will work for everyone, so to keep an open mind and understanding it may be a process of trying many different things before one will work. One main thing that will help the individual and needs to be one of the first steps is getting back to basics. What this means is teaching and helping the individuals with everyday life and the things that need to be done in a day. One of the most important things is getting adequate housing and helping them to maintain and sustain living on their own. Another helpful thing for these individuals to have is the support and understanding from their families so that they can have the confidence and support to accomplish and move towards their recovery ("Schizophrenia and substance," 2007).

A draw back in our system that can sometimes happen is individuals with schizophrenia or other mental health issues along with substance abuse problems “fall through the cracks of the system”. What is meant by this is sometimes when individuals try to seek help for one disorder, they can not receive adequate help because that agency wants them to have the other disorder they are dealing with under control before the one is treated and vice versa. An example of this is a client goes in for help with their schizophrenia, but they are told they cannot be helped because their alcoholism needs to be under control. Then when they go to receive help for their drinking, they are told their mental health needs to be taken care of first. Now with today’s growing numbers of both addictions and mental health being incorporated into one agency, the hope is this type of thing will no long happen, but it could still be the case for some individuals. Clearly the same with any early intervention is the same for individuals with schizophrenia or an addiction problem. The earlier they realize what is going on with themselves and seek help, they better their recovery process will go ("Schizophrenia and substance," 2007).

[] This site can be very useful as a resource for individuals who have a family member friend or the individual themselves as for information about what the disorder is how it affects individuals and what people can do.