adminDr Sacrifice Chirisa Mental Health Matters
Schizophrenia is a complex chronic mental health disorder characterised by;
● Delusions
● Hallucinations
● Disorganised speech or behaviour
● Impaired cognitive ability
● Negative symptoms.
The early onset of the disease and its chronic course make it a disabling disorder for most patients and their families.
Disability often results from cognitive symptoms, such as impairments in attention, working memory, or executive function.
In addition, relapse may occur because of positive symptoms, such as suspiciousness, delusions, and hallucinations.
Abnormalities in the brain’s neuro-transmission is the basis of pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Either excess or a deficiency of dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate aspartate, glycine, and Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) are part of the neurochemical imbalance of schizophrenia.
The brain tissue itself also appears to undergo detectable physical changes in patients with schizophrenia.
There is increase in the size of the third and lateral ventricles and individuals may have a smaller medial temporal lobe.
The prevalence of schizophrenia is one percent in the Zimbabwean population that is ±135 000 individuals. The prevalence is equal in males and females, although the onset of symptoms occurs at an earlier age in males than in females.
Males tend to experience their first episode of schizophrenia in their early 20s, whereas women typically experience their first episode in their late 20s or early 30s.
The goals in treating schizophrenia include; targeting symptoms, preventing relapse, and increasing adaptive functioning, so that the patient can be integrated back into the community. Since patients rarely return to their baseline level of adaptive functioning, both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments must be used to optimise long-term outcomes. Pharmacotherapy is the mainstay of schizophrenia management, but residual symptoms may persist.
For that reason, non-pharmacological treatments, such as psychotherapy, are also important. Psychotherapeutic approaches may be divided into three categories: individual, group, and cognitive behavioural.
In most schizophrenia patients, it is difficult to implement effective rehabilitation programmes without anti-psychotic agents.
Prompt initiation of drug treatment is vital, especially within five years after the first acute episode, as this is when most illness-related changes in the brain occur.
Predictors of a poor prognosis comorbidity of illicit drug use as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
In the event of an acute psychotic episode, drug therapy should be administered immediately.
During the first seven days of treatment, the goal is to decrease hostility and to attempt to return the patient to normal functioning (e.g., sleeping and eating).
At the start of treatment, appropriate dosing should be titrated based on the patient’s response.
Treatment during the acute phase of schizophrenia is followed by maintenance therapy, which should be aimed at increasing socialisation and at improving self-care and mood.
Maintenance treatment is necessary to help prevent relapse. Drug therapy should be continued for at least 12 months after the remission of the first psychotic episode.
Let us be responsible for our friends and relatives by bringing and supporting them as they receive their treatment.
Online Reporter