Chyree Heirs-Alexandre
Professor Zupan
March 12, 2016
Course-Mental Health 107
Research Paper- Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, debilitating mental illness that can go unnoticed in various lifecycles. According to medical statistics, i t affects about 1% of the population, corresponding to more than 2 million people in the United States alone. Men are more often affected than women. “Schizophrenia is a psychotic mental disorder and is characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior, and social problems. The thought process problems associated with schizophrenia are described as psychosis, this is when a person's thinking is completely out of touch with reality”(Morrison-Valfe). An example of such is hearing …show more content…
Testing and screenings for Schizophrenia are usually a combination of blood work and diagnostic imaging. The labs will include a complete blood count (CBC), and other blood tests that may help rule out conditions with similar symptoms, also screening for alcohol and drugs. A request for imaging studies, such as an MRI or CT scan will also be a part of the screening.
A certified mental health provider will check mental status through observation, appearance and demeanor and ask about thoughts, moods, delusions, hallucinations, substance abuse, and a potential for violence or suicide. In order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must meet the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental conditions. Diagnosis of schizophrenia involves the elimination of other mental health disorders and determining that symptom aren't due to substance abuse, medication or a medical condition (Metzl 2010). In addition, a person must have at least two of the following symptoms most of the time during a one-month period, with some level of disturbance being present over six months: delusions, hallucinations. Catatonic behavior, disorganized speech and behavior. The American Psychiatric …show more content…
Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed drugs to treat schizophrenia. They control symptoms by affecting the brain’s neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Thereby control the symptoms of schizophrenia. Sometimes individuals become uncooperative with treatment and become agitated. In these instances, doctors often prescribe Lorazepam which is also known as Ativan to calm the individual so cooperation can be achieved. If this fails, medications will be given in the form of injections. There have been newer medications introduced which have less serious side effects than conventional medications. Many of them have been seen in television commercials such as Aripiprazole (Abilify), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), and Risperidone (Risperdal) just to name a few. Generally, after several weeks of taking oral medications, the symptoms begin to improve. Medications can be combined for desired results by the prescribing physician to achieve effective treatment results for the
Professor Zupan
March 12, 2016
Course-Mental Health 107
Research Paper- Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, debilitating mental illness that can go unnoticed in various lifecycles. According to medical statistics, i t affects about 1% of the population, corresponding to more than 2 million people in the United States alone. Men are more often affected than women. “Schizophrenia is a psychotic mental disorder and is characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior, and social problems. The thought process problems associated with schizophrenia are described as psychosis, this is when a person's thinking is completely out of touch with reality”(Morrison-Valfe). An example of such is hearing …show more content…
Testing and screenings for Schizophrenia are usually a combination of blood work and diagnostic imaging. The labs will include a complete blood count (CBC), and other blood tests that may help rule out conditions with similar symptoms, also screening for alcohol and drugs. A request for imaging studies, such as an MRI or CT scan will also be a part of the screening.
A certified mental health provider will check mental status through observation, appearance and demeanor and ask about thoughts, moods, delusions, hallucinations, substance abuse, and a potential for violence or suicide. In order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must meet the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental conditions. Diagnosis of schizophrenia involves the elimination of other mental health disorders and determining that symptom aren't due to substance abuse, medication or a medical condition (Metzl 2010). In addition, a person must have at least two of the following symptoms most of the time during a one-month period, with some level of disturbance being present over six months: delusions, hallucinations. Catatonic behavior, disorganized speech and behavior. The American Psychiatric …show more content…
Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed drugs to treat schizophrenia. They control symptoms by affecting the brain’s neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Thereby control the symptoms of schizophrenia. Sometimes individuals become uncooperative with treatment and become agitated. In these instances, doctors often prescribe Lorazepam which is also known as Ativan to calm the individual so cooperation can be achieved. If this fails, medications will be given in the form of injections. There have been newer medications introduced which have less serious side effects than conventional medications. Many of them have been seen in television commercials such as Aripiprazole (Abilify), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), and Risperidone (Risperdal) just to name a few. Generally, after several weeks of taking oral medications, the symptoms begin to improve. Medications can be combined for desired results by the prescribing physician to achieve effective treatment results for the