Schizophrenia is considered the most severe of the mental disorders, a disease with the potential to devastate not only the person diagnosed with it, but that person’s family as well. With one hundred thousand Americans newly diagnosed with the disease each year, the disease has become a widespread problem. Because individuals with this disease suffer from disordered thought processes, they frequently become less able to communicate clearly. They show signs of strange speech and behaviors. Sometimes those behaviors lead to delusions (a false belief based on a misinterpretation of reality, or hallucinations (imaginary visions or imaginary perceptions.) Such problems can lead down a dangerous path of social isolation. Since people tend to avoid
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“Earlier treatment and shorter duration of untreated psychosis is associated with better treatment response, less likelihood of relapse and better clinical outcome,” said Sandra Dr Silva, PhD, psychosocial treatment and co director and outreach director at the Staglin Music Festival Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodormal States at UCLA, departments of psychology and psychiatry. Being a family member or friend of someone who has schizophrenia can be frustrating. Sometimes it seems like they aren’t getting better or the treatment isn’t working. It’s a process. Being supportive and trying to empathize with your friend or family member is crucial. A family’s emotional support may disappear and some families cut off all contact with their family member who has the condition. The most common problem that people have when they are dealing with someone who has schizophrenia is that they don’t know how to help them. There are many different support systems that someone who is diagnosed with schizophrenia can have, including family, a day time provider, church, friends, professional case managers. Some things to keep in mind: 1 in 5 will get better within 5 years of their first episode of schizophrenia. 3 in 5 will get better but will still have symptoms. 1 in 5 will continue to have troublesome symptoms. A treatment plan that combines medication and supportive services and therapy is the most effective approach. Living with someone who has schizophrenia can be one of the toughest things. When treated properly most people with schizophrenia are able to have meaningful and long
“Earlier treatment and shorter duration of untreated psychosis is associated with better treatment response, less likelihood of relapse and better clinical outcome,” said Sandra Dr Silva, PhD, psychosocial treatment and co director and outreach director at the Staglin Music Festival Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodormal States at UCLA, departments of psychology and psychiatry. Being a family member or friend of someone who has schizophrenia can be frustrating. Sometimes it seems like they aren’t getting better or the treatment isn’t working. It’s a process. Being supportive and trying to empathize with your friend or family member is crucial. A family’s emotional support may disappear and some families cut off all contact with their family member who has the condition. The most common problem that people have when they are dealing with someone who has schizophrenia is that they don’t know how to help them. There are many different support systems that someone who is diagnosed with schizophrenia can have, including family, a day time provider, church, friends, professional case managers. Some things to keep in mind: 1 in 5 will get better within 5 years of their first episode of schizophrenia. 3 in 5 will get better but will still have symptoms. 1 in 5 will continue to have troublesome symptoms. A treatment plan that combines medication and supportive services and therapy is the most effective approach. Living with someone who has schizophrenia can be one of the toughest things. When treated properly most people with schizophrenia are able to have meaningful and long