For wonderful information, stories and articles on schizoprenia see The Password.
RISKS and COMPLICATIONS.
Complications of schizophrenia include such things as substance abuse (especially alcohol), suicide and tardive dyskenesia, a condition marked by facial tics, tongue tremor and jaw movements caused by long-term use of anti-psychotic medications.
TREATMENT
There is no cure for schizophrenia. Current treatment includes use of powerful neuroleptic or anti-psychotic medications to reduce confusion, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations and other symptoms.
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Supportive therapy to help the schizophrenic obtain vocational skills, housing, or to live in the outside world can be invaluable.
FAMILY THERAPY
An important factor in the long term prognosis for supporting the schizophrenic and family unit as a whole.
REHABILITATION
Structured social skills training, attention focusing procedures, personal grooming and vocational skills are learned.
HOSPITALIZATION:
Needed in acute stages and for prevention of harm to self or others.
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS, DAYCARE
After hospitalization these are available to provide a therapeutic milieu.
RELATIONSHIPS
Schizophrenia can have a devastating impact on friends and families. It can disrupt family life for many years and cause emotional, social and financial difficulties. Family members worry about the illness, blame each other for it, are constantly anxious about the symptoms, feel guilt that they may be responsible, and anger and frustration when treatment does not result in full recovery.
Families need ongoing support to help them deal with one crises after another, come to terms with their own feelings, develop realistic expectations for their loved ones, and cope with the ongoing stress in their lives.
CONCLUSION
About one in four schizophrenics have a relatively good prognosis (that is, to improve dramatically within two years of onset of psychotic symptoms). The great majority continue to require treatment for a long period of time. With appropriate treatment many are able to work in some capacity, or live with their families or in some sort of independent living arrangement, and to develop friendships.
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