By: Tori D’Anna & Erin Zaleski. Our thesis is: There are much better types of treatment other than medication, to help control the symptoms of Schizophrenia.

Treatments of Schizophrenia

By: Tori D’Anna & Erin Zaleski

Our thesis is:

There are much better types of treatment other than medication, to help control the symptoms of Schizophrenia. The primary treatment used is medication, but patients often stop taking, or refuse to take their medication. The secondary treatment for Schizophrenia is a Psychotherapy; which could help patients with Schizophrenia learn to adapt and deal with their disorder, rather than taking medication to just mask the symptoms.

(Grohol, [2]2011)

Thesis

Affects more men than women Usually begins in late-teens to early twenties Primary therapy is medication Poverty, homelessness, and unemployment are

often associated with this disorder because medications cannot help the person find a job, learn to be effective in social relationships, increase the individual's coping skills, and help them learn to communicate and work well with others

(Grohol, [2]2011)

Schizophrenia General:

1. Paranoid2. Disorganized3. Catatonic4. Undifferentiated 5. Residual

(Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, 2011)

Schizophrenia Types:

Delusions of:

Being persecuted unfairly Being someone who is famous

Auditory hallucinations Normal intellectual functioning Anger Anxiety Argumentative Very alert about surroundings Violence Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

(Mayo Clinic Staff,[1] 2011)

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Disorganized speech and behavior Flattening or inappropriate emotions Odd postures Trouble functioning at school or work Social isolation Clumsy, uncoordinated movements

(Mayo Clinic Staff,[2] 2010)

Disorganized Schizophrenia

Physical immobility or excessive movement Extreme resistance Peculiar movements Mimicking speech or movements Incoherent speech Neglect of personal hygiene Emotions inappropriate to the situation Angry outbursts

(Mayo Clinic Staff,[3] 2010)

Catatonic Schizophrenia

Symptoms from all types

But not enough symptoms of one to define as a specific type

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia

a past history of at least one episode of

schizophrenia but currently has no symptoms No longer displays prominent signs

(grohol, 2006)

Residual Schizophrenia

Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic Humanistic-Existential Cognitive-Behavioral Transpersonal

Medications Antipsychotics-normalize the biochemical imbalances

that cause schizophrenia First-Generation Antipsychotics Second-Generation Antipsychotics

(Grohol,[2] 2011)

Treatments of Schizophrenia

focuses on unconscious processes Enables a person to examine unresolved

conflicts Examine symptoms that arise from past

dysfunctional relationships Goals:

self-awareness understanding of the influence of the past on

present behavior(Haggerty, 2006)

(Strisik & Strisik, 2002)

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Existential

Focus on: Individual experience of anxiety Distress leading to exploration of personal beliefs and values

enabling clients to find constructive ways to come to terms with challenges of everyday living

Humanistic tries to do justice to the whole person including mind, body

and spirit self-healing capacities of the client works towards an authentic meeting of equals in the therapy

relationship(Strisik & Strisik, 2002)

Humanistic-Existential

Psychotherapy

Define concrete goals Some techniques associated with Cognitive-Behavior Therapy:

Relaxation training Systematic desensitization Assertiveness training Social skills training.  

Uses active techniques to reach clients Therapist looks at:

patterns of thinking behavior how these patterns are reinforced/maintained by within the

clients own environment(Strisik & Strisik, 2002)

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy

Views the human psyche as having a central

core Self or Soul as the center of identity as well as a personal ego

draw on a wide range of therapeutic methods uncovering of past psychological material context of the individuals potential based on

spiritual insight and experience(Strisik & Strisik, 2002)

Transpersonal Psychotherapy

reduce anxiety and agitation  reduce problems with thinking or remembering reduce or control delusions and hallucinations reduce or control psychosis SIDE EFFECTS:

restlessness, tremors, and rigid muscles severe movement problem is tardive dyskinesia-unusual body movements that you cannot control lower white blood cell count Seizures. Muscle spasms Abnormal heartbeat Liver problems Low blood sugar Frequent urination Worsening of psychotic symptoms Drowsiness Low blood pressure Blurred vision Constipation Loss of appetite

("First-generation antipsychotics," 2010)(Durham, 2008)

Medication

treat the symptoms of schizophrenia cause fewer side effects than first-generation

antipsychotic medicines Often used first, before first-generation antipsychotics SIDE EFFECTS:

Feeling sleepy or tired. Gaining weight. Developing high cholesterol. Developing high blood sugar.

(Durham, 2008)

Second-Generation Antipsychotics

Originally our argument was there are better therapies than

medication to help Schizophrenia But after research we realized that medications are needed

because Schizophrenia is caused by: An imbalance of the neurotransmitters, dopamine and glutamate

in the brain which causes delusions and hallucinations Medications are needed to control the delusions and

hallucinations Patients with Schizophrenia often go to therapy for about a

year after being on medication, or until the delusions stop But after therapy many patients stop taking their medications

sometime during their life, so the delusions come back.("National institute of," 2009)

Argument

Our argument is now:

Patients with Schizophrenia need to go to therapy until their disorder is completely managed, or even for the rest of their lives. We believe the best therapy is:

A combination of Second-generation Antipsychotics and Humanistic-Existential Therapy Medication is needed to fix the chemical imbalance it the brain

Second generation antipsychotics has fewer side effects than First-generation antipsychotics do, and none of the side effects are as serious

Humanistic-Existential Therapy helps to socialize patients with Schizophrenia and helps them come to terms with stressors in their everyday life

("National institute of," 2009)

Argument

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, M. (2011, December 05). Web md. Retrieved from

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-types

Mayo Clinic Staff.[1] (2011, August 02). Mayo clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/paranoid-schizophrenia/DS00862/DSECTION=symptoms

Mayo Clinic Staff. [2](2010, December 10). Mayo clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/disorganized-schizophrenia/DS00864/DSECTION=symptoms

Mayo Clinic Staff. [3](2010, December 17). Catatonic schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/catatonic-schizophrenia/DS00863/DSECTION=symptoms

Grohol, J. [1](2006, April 08). Residual schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/residual-schizophrenia/

Grohol, J. M. [2](2011, September 1). Psychcentral.com. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx31t.htm

Haggerty, J. (2006, March 02). Psychcentral.com. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/psychodynamic-therapy/

Strisik, P., & Strisik, S. (2002, May 15). Strisik. Retrieved from http://www.strisik.com/therapy/approaches.htm

National institute of mental health. (2009, September 08). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/what-causes-schizophrenia.shtml

First-generation antipsychotics. (2010, August 19). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/first-generation-antipsychotics-for-treating-schizophrenia

Durham, J. (2008, August 28). Schizophrenia health center. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/second-generation-antipsychotics-for-treating-schizophrenia

Sources