Diagnosing and Treating Schizophrenia DSM-IV Essay

These include Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), Thioridazine (Mellaril), Haloperidol (Haldol), Fluphenazine (Prolixin), Mesoridazine (Serentil), Perphenazine (Trilafon) and Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

(b). Atypical Medications-is the newer medication to schizophrenia. The atypical drugs affect different areas from those affected by the antipsychotic drugs. These include Clozapine (Clozaril) -particularly effective in younger people, Risperidone (Risperdal) and Olanzapine (Zyprexa).

(c). other significant medication-these can also help suppress the symptoms and include Antidepressants, Antianxiety drugs, Lithium (for bipolar disorder) and Antiepileptic drugs.

(d). Electroconvulsive ("Shock") Therapy-where low voltage electric current is induced into the patient to cause seizure. It is of late considered to be safer than drug therapy.

(e). Psychotherapy- this is where the different professionals like the psychologists, some nurses, psychiatrists and social workers work together to study and help treat the patient along side using drugs. It exploits the cognitive behavior of the individual where the normal positive behavior is emphasized. It follows on the past thoughts, experiences, feelings, problems and relationships (Grohol, M., 2006).

(d). Rehabilitation-is where nonmedical means are exploited and the social and vocational contact and training is stressed upon. It helps the patients regain confidence of doing once more the activities like cooking that previously they lost confidence to do.

My alternative therapy is rather a social and lifelong care that is offered to the patients.Parents should be keen on the growth and development of their children so that they can quickly pick out the abnormal psychological behavior of the children this can be made easier if every family has a family psychiatrist whom they visit regularly to assess the intellectual development of their children. If there is any abnormality detected, a lifelong routine of both drugs and psychosocial support should be adhered to. Once the child grows up and the symptoms are well managed, the family must assist the child imbibe the normal social life trend by helping him get a job and inculcate him into all the normal social events like vacations and camps. With this level of understanding and care, a schizophrenia patient will be in a good position to learn and cope with it for their entire life.

References

All Psych, (2004). Psychiatric Disorders: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,

Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Retrieved March 25, 2011 from http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html

Health Information Publications, (2011). What Is Schizophrenia? Retrieved March 25, 2011 from http://ehealthmd.com/library/schizophrenia/sch_whatis.html

Grohol, M., (2006). Schizophrenia Treatment. Retrieved March 25, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx31t.htm.....