Treatment

There are a number of methods used in the treatment of Schizophrenia, but most are used together in an ‘integrated’ form of treatment, where medication, psychotherapy and family education and support are used to help reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as teaching the patient important life and social skills to allow them to manage better in everyday life. This integrated method is important in long-term treatment and in the prevention of a relapse. 

Medication

Although they do not cure schizophrenia, antipsychotic drugs are the best treatment as they reduce the symptoms to allow the sufferer to function relatively normally. Most work on Dopamine receptors – blocking the neurotransmitter, which is thought to play a role in schizophrenia. Psychotic episodes may still occur, and there can be side effects, known as extrapyramidal symptoms, but the majority of patient’s conditions will improve whilst on the medication. 

Medication falls into two groups:

Neuroleptics: mesoridazine (Serentil), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), perphenazine (Trilafon) and thioridazine (Mellaril). Suffering extrapyramidal symptoms, such as an inability to control muscles and lack of co-ordination, are very common with these drugs. 

Atypical antipsychotics: clozapine (Clozaril), risperidone (Risperdal), aripiprazole (Abilify), palperidone (Invega), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and ziprasidone (Geodon). These generally seem to work better, but can carry metabolic side effects i.e weight gain, which can in tern lead to obesity and diabetes.

Shared possible side effects: blurred vision, tremors, muscle stiffness and spasms.

Psychosocial treatments

Psychosocial treatments address the problems that medication doesn’t: the everyday struggles of living with schizophrenia, such as looking after oneself, holding down a job, being part of the community and maintaining personal relationships. 

The treatment is often community-based, and so reliant on the resources available, but usually consists of rehabilitation and life-skills classes i.e. job training and social skills. 

Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy

This is a specific form of psychosocial treatment, usually carried out by a qualified healthcare professional. It combines increasing the patient’s ability to deal with life’s problems by reducing stress and other psychological problems, whilst teaching them life and social skills, and how best to use them. 

Family education

This form of treatment teaches the patient’s family how to deal with the condition, as often it is up to them to look after them once they have been released from hospital. Their support is crucial to the long-term improvement of the patients, and in reducing their chances of relapse.