ANSWER:
Introduction:
Social withdrawal, reduced emotional expression, lack of desire, and other mixed positive and negative symptoms are hallmarks of the complex mental condition schizophrenia. Understanding the experiences and needs of people with schizophrenia is critical for delivering good care and support. This article provides insights from a client’s perspective, shedding light on their challenges, unsuccessful treatment attempts, and successful interventions.
Positive and Negative Symptoms: People with schizophrenia may experience various positive and negative symptoms that vary in severity and appearance.
Positive Symptoms: Positive symptoms are extraneous experiences or actions that do not occur in healthy people. They are as follows:
a) Delusions: False beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence. For example, clients may believe they have supernatural abilities or are being persecuted.
b) Hallucinations: Sensory experiences that are unrelated to real-world stimuli. The most prevalent auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia are hearing voices.
b) Disorganized communication includes incoherent or tangential communication, difficulty structuring thoughts, and idea derailment.
Negative symptoms include a diminution or absence of normal behaviors or emotions. These could include:
a) Social Withdrawal: Avoiding social interactions and losing desire for connections.
b) decreased Emotional Expression: Limited emotional range and decreased exhibition of facial expressions.
b) Lack of Motivation: A lack of drive to pursue goals or participate in activities.
Struggles and Treatment Attempts: People with schizophrenia frequently confront obstacles affecting their everyday lives and general well-being. These difficulties may include:
a) Impairment in Occupational Functioning: Difficulties maintaining job or academic endeavors due to symptoms and cognitive impairments.
b) Impaired Social Functioning: Difficulties creating and sustaining connections, which leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
c) Medication Side Effects: Antipsychotic medications, widely recommended for schizophrenia, can induce weight gain, sleepiness, and movement abnormalities.
Medication, counseling, and psychological therapies may all be used in treatment attempts. Treatment success, however, varies between individuals.
Strategies That Work: While treatment outcomes vary, the following strategies have shown promise in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for people with schizophrenia:
a) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT assists clients in identifying and challenging mistaken thoughts and beliefs, thereby minimizing the impact of delusions and hallucinations.
b) Social Skills Training: This intervention aims to improve communication, problem-solving, and social interaction skills, as well as to address social withdrawal and strengthen connections.
c) Supported Employment Programs: Offering vocational assistance and opportunities targeted to an individual’s abilities and aspirations can improve occupational functioning and independence.
The following evidence supports these interventions:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): According to a study by Zimmermann et al. (2019) published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, CBT helps reduce positive symptoms and enhance functioning in people with schizophrenia.
Penn et al. (2018) reported in The American Journal of Psychiatry that social skills training interventions improved social functioning and reduced negative symptoms.
Supported Employment Programs: A comprehensive analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry by Modini et al. (2016) indicated that supported employment programs significantly boosted employment rates and improved job outcomes in people with severe mental illness.
Understanding the feelings, demands, and anxieties of people with schizophrenia is critical for providing compassionate and effective care. Healthcare practitioners can help clients manage symptoms, improve functional outcomes, and improve overall well-being by using evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, and supported employment programs.
QUESTION:
Describe the individual.
- What are the positive and negative symptoms?
- What are the person’s struggles? What treatments have been tried and failed? What works?
- If you were that person, what would you like to tell your nurse about yourself, your needs, and your fears?