Strategic Intervention In Schizophrenia

"This book examines emergent research on the identification and epidemiology of various mental illnesses, featuring information on the prevalence of the disease, psychopharmacological advancements, and strategies for the management of chronic mental illnesses"--

Poor adherence to therapy is one of the main obstacles to treatment effectiveness in schizophrenia. It is the main determinant of relapse, hospitalization, symptom persistence, and poor psychosocial functioning and outcome. Adherence to treatment is affected by various factors related to the disease characteristics, to the patient him- or herself, to the treatment, and to the therapeutic relationship. Some of these factors are modifiable, and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have been developed for this purpose. This book addresses the different aspects of adherence to treatment in schizophrenia and related disorders in a systematic but easy-to-use manual format. Chapters focus on a full range of issues, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to enhance adherence and continuity of care, relevant psychological factors, the importance of the patient-doctor relationship, and the need for an alliance with other care-givers. Adherence to Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia will be an invaluable asset for all who are involved in the care of patients with schizophrenia. ​

Our understanding of schizophrenia has advanced considerably over the last 10 years, particularly with regard to neurobiological and psychological factors. This book brings together disparate literature into an accessible resource.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling psychosis, which is an impairment of thinking in which the interpretation of reality is abnormal. Psychosis is a symptom of a disordered brain. Approximately One percent of the population worldwide develops schizophrenia during their lifetime. Although schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, the disorder often appears earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, than in women, who are generally affected in the twenties to early thirties. People with schizophrenia often suffer symptoms such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. The current evidence concerning the causes of schizophrenia are many. It is quite clear that multiple factors are involved. These include changes in the chemistry of the brain, changes in the structure of the brain, and genetic factors. Viral infections and head injuries may also play a role. New molecular tools and modern statistical analyses allow focusing in on particular genes that might make people more susceptible to schizophrenia by affecting, for example, brain development or neurotransmitter systems governing brain functioning. State-of-the-art imaging techniques are being used to study the living brain. They have recently revealed specific, subtle abnormalities in the structure and function of the brains of patients with schizophrenia. In other imaging studies, early biochemical changes that may precede the onset of disease symptoms have been noted, prompting examination of the neural circuits that are most likely to be involved in producing those symptoms. This book presents new and important research in the field.

Using a cognitive behavioural framework, this study describes methods of assessing and intervening with the families of schizophrenics. The interventions detailed are those used in the Salford Family Intervention Study, which resulted in decreased relapse rates and better social functioning of patients. The methods include educating the family about the illness, reducing stress in family members, and helping families to promote the well-being of the patient.