The seven types of schizophrenia

Updated June 5, 2014th

Since schizophrenia is not a single disease and its causes are not yet known, the current methods of treatment on clinical research and experience. These approaches are based on their ability to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia and to reduce the likelihood of selected back symptoms.

Some drugs available for the treatment of schizophrenia are:

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• Clozapine (Clozaril)
• Haloperidol (Haldol)
• Risperidone (Risperdal)
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
• Aripiprazole (Abilify)

Antipsychotic medications reduce the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and usually the patient can function more effectively and appropriately. Antipsychotic drugs are the best treatment available, but not schizophrenia "healing" or make sure that no more psychotic episodes. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia show substantial improvement when treated with antipsychotic medications.

Sometimes when people with schizophrenia become depressed, other symptoms to worsen. The symptoms may improve with the addition of an antidepressant.

Early side effects of taking antipsychotics

• Drowsiness
• Agitation
• Muscle cramps
• Tremor
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision

These can be corrected is controlled by lowering the dose or other medication. Patients have different responses to treatment and side effects of various antipsychotics.

The long-term effects of taking antipsychotics

Side effects of long-term antipsychotics may be a more serious problem. Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a disorder characterized by involuntary movements, the most common mouth, lips and tongue, and sometimes the trunk or other parts of the body like the arms and legs. It occurs in about 15 to 20 percent of patients receiving many years, the more "typical" antipsychotic drugs, but TD can be developed even in patients treated with these drugs for shorter periods. In most cases the symptoms are mild in TD, and the patient may ignore the movement.

Antipsychotics have developed in recent years a TD risk seems much lower than conventional antipsychotics older production. The risk is not zero, however, and side effects of their own, such as to produce weight gain. Moreover, if too high a dose is administered, the new drugs may like Parkinson's disease, a disorder that affects the movement lead problems. However, the newer antipsychotics are a significant advance in the treatment, and their optimal use in people with schizophrenia is the subject of much current research.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation programs may include social skills vocational guidance, vocational training, problem solving and money management skills, use of public transport and training. These approaches are important to the success of community-based treatment of schizophrenia.

Individual psychotherapy

Individual Psychotherapy involves regular discussions between the patient and a psychologist, as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker or nurse. Recent studies show that the support-oriented reality to teach individual psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral approaches, coping strategies and problem-solving can be beneficial for outpatients with schizophrenia. However, psychotherapy is not a substitute for antipsychotic medication and is very useful if drug treatment has initially relieves the symptoms of psychotic patients.

Family education

Very often patients are discharged with schizophrenia from the hospital into the care of their families; it is important that family members learn what they can about schizophrenia and understand the difficulties and problems associated with the disease.

Support Groups

Family groups and peer support and defense are very active and provide useful information and support for patients and families of patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders information.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health articles and pamphlets about schizophrenia