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ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA - Therapy | ||||||||||||||
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Schizophrenia is treatable
Contrary to widespread popular opinion, the illness schizophrenia is treatable. During the acute stages of the illness, a hospital stay is often necessary. After the psychotic symptoms subside, an outpatient treatment is sufficient in most cases. A recent survey shows that in approximately 50-60% of those who suffer from schizophrenia, all symptoms diminish and the patients find their way back to self-sufficiency. Through consequential treatment and recurrence prevention, in other cases, serious episodes are toned down and the odds of new episodes significantly reduced. The negative social consequences could also be reduced and through the active cooperation of the afflicted, frequently overcome. The successful treatment of schizophrenia demands knowledge, experience and engagement from both patients and doctors. The combination of medication therapy, psycho- and socio- therapy has, in the past few years, been proven to be the most successful approach to treating schizophrenia. Medication Therapy Medications, known as neuroleptics, play a central role in the treatment of schizophrenia. During the acute phase of the illness, and especially influenced through the so-called 'positive-symptomatic' as a rule leads to a quick reduction in discomfort of the afflicted. Newly developed neuroleptics, the so-called atypical neuroleptics, have also shown success in the treatment of 'negative-symptomatic'. The medication therapy provides an important basis for the success of further therapeutic measures such as psycho- and socio-therapy. Forgoing medication therapy would in contrast, mean disproportionately more suffering for the afflicted and significantly reduce his or her chances for healing. How do neuroleptics work? Neuroleptics, in the first place, work specifically in the cases of psychotic symptoms: they reduce psychotic experiences, work against paranoia, agitation, hallucinations, and mental disturbances. The connection to reality is possible again. In general, they have a calming and relaxing effect on the psyche of the afflicted. Consciousness and mental alertness are fully maintained. These medications show their effectiveness amongst other things, through their repressive influence of hyper-functioning of dopamine-dependent neurotransmitter systems in the human brain. Are neuroleptics "dangerous"? Medication therapy in psychiatry has, in public opinion, a negative image. Psycho-pharmaceuticals have been described as "chemical club", through which the therapeutic goal to is to tranquilize the patient. For this reason, patients are often initially concerned when neuroleptics are offered. Fears such as; Are these medicines addictive?, or Will I become completely numb?, come to the surface. The answer to these questions is NO. Through more than 40 years of experience in the treatment with neuroleptics it is clear that there is no risk of dependency. The goal of a therapy with these medications in not to tranquilize the patient, instead, the adverse affects in thinking, feeling and acting should be made to subside. In this way, the patients get back the possibility to return to their every day lives. Side effects Such is the case, that despite the many positive effects, in some cases undesirable side effects can occur. This is the case with neuroleptics as with all other pharmaceutical products in medicine. It is important to know that the occurrence of these side-effects disappear on their own to some extent, on other cases, can be specifically treated or the patient can be switched to another medication. Indeed, it has been observed that through the development of the atypical neuroleptics in the past few years, the incidence of side effects is decreasing. The possible side effects should be weighed against the positive effects of the neuroleptics and carefully compared. As a rule it will be demonstrated that the use of the medications provides greater advantages than disadvantages. Psychotherapy Principally it applies that at the commencement of psychotherapy, the patient must have enough connection to reality in order to have a meaningful interaction with the therapist. Therefore, as a rule, it is necessary to wait for the first improvements from medication therapy. When treating people suffering from schizophrenia, the psychotherapy must be set up to be practical and flexible. The treatment method selected must be fit to the specific phase of the illness as well as the possibilities for each patient in his or her situation. Essentially, based on a cognitive behavior-therapeutic approach the following goals are to be pursued:
Soziotherapie umfasst rehabilitative und unterstützende Maßnahmen für die Alltagsbewältigung und Arbeit. Wenn keine vollständige Gesundung erreicht werden kann, bedarf es umfassender Betreuungsangebote. Dazu gehören neben Behandlung, Betreuung und Rehabilitation auch beschütztes Wohnen, Betätigung und Arbeit sowie Teilhabe am gesellschaftlichen Leben. Ziel all dieser Maßnahmen ist es, den Betroffenen in seinen Fertigkeiten sein Leben zu gestalten, gezielt zu fördern. Konkret kann dies etwa bedeuten, spezielle berufsfördernde Maßnahmen einzuleiten oder Betreuung durch sozial-psychiatrische Dienste mit entsprechenden Angeboten zur Gestaltung der Tagesstruktur und sozialer Anbindung. Therapy is collaboration The mentally ill are always active participants and not just 'sick'. They deserve our respect. The willingness of the patient to work together with his or her therapist is a basic requirement for a long-term positive development. This applies not only to the psychotherapy but also to the medication therapy, sociotherapy, and rehabilitation. The afflicted should always be a partner in the therapy, since her or she is the expert on the illness. First negotiate, then treat is the basic rule for every promising therapy. Composed by the Anti-Stigma-Workgroup of the LMU in association with BASTA - the association for the mentally ill. |
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| © 2006 BASTA | |