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What
is schizophrenia?
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Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and
disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout
history. About 1 percent of Americans have this illness.
People with the disorder may hear
voices other people don't hear. They may believe other people are
reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm
them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them
withdrawn or extremely agitated.
People with schizophrenia may not
make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or
talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine
until they talk about what they are really thinking.
Families and society are affected by
schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty
holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for
help.
Treatment helps relieve many
symptoms of schizophrenia, but most people who have the disorder
cope with symptoms throughout their lives. However, many people with
schizophrenia can lead rewarding and meaningful lives in their
communities. Researchers are developing more effective medications
and using new research tools to understand the causes of
schizophrenia. In the years to come, this work may help prevent and
better treat the illness.
How is schizophrenia diagnosed? How can I
tell if someone has schizophrenia?
There is currently no physical or lab test
that can absolutely diagnose schizophrenia - a psychiatrist usually comes to
the diagnosis based on clinical symptoms. What physical testing can
do is rule out a lot of other conditions (seizure disorders, metabolic
disorders, thyroid disfunction, brain tumor, street drug use, etc) that
sometimes have similar symptoms.
Current research is evaluating possible physical diagnostic tests (such as a
blood
test for schizophrenia,
special
IQ tests for identifying schizophrenia,
eye-tracking,
brain
imaging,
'smell
tests', etc), but these are still in trial stages at only a few
universities and companies and are not yet widely used. I t will likely be a
few years before these on the market, and adopted by hospitals, etc.
People diagnosed with schizophrenia usually
experience a combination of
positive and
negative symptoms. These may include (but are not limited to) racing or
uncontrollable thoughts, uncontrollable mannerisms, talking to yourself,
paranoia, hallucinations or delusions, sensing that people are following or
talking to you, insomnia. The
Symptoms and Diagnosis
section of this website may help you identify some of your own symptoms,
or the symptoms of someone close to you; however, only a psychiatrist can
make a diagnosis and start a treatment program. If the symptoms are
bothersome, debilitating, or harmful, please make an appointment with your
doctor and/or a psychiatrist.
The best places for schizophrenia diagnosis
are the new early psychosis and schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment
centers that are beginning to be launched worldwide. See our
Worldwide list of
early psychosis/schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment clinics and
contact them if you, or someone you know, may be developing schizophrenia.
They have the most intensive testing process and can help get early
treatment (which improves changes of a good outcome).
What to do if you suspect you or a loved one
may have a psychiatric disorder:
The best places for schizophrenia diagnosis
are the new early psychosis and schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment
centers that are being offered worldwide. See our
Worldwide list of
early psychosis/schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment clinics and
contact the center closest to you, if you or someone you know, may be
developing schizophrenia. They have the most comprehensive psychiatric
evaluation process and can help get early treatment (which improves chances
of a good outcome).
If you are not close to these early
treatment centers or
university-associated psychiatric hospitals (click for list) , then the
next thing you might try is make an appointment with a qualified
psychiatrist with experience with psychosis and schizophrenia. See our
section on
Finding and Working with a Psychiatrist (click here) for more
information on how to find a good one.
Another approach is to start with your
primary care physician, and get a full check-up and evaluation to rule out
some other common neurological disorders. Some tests that you might expect
include an EEG, MRI, or PET scan to rule out seizure disorders, and some lab
tests to determine pituitary and thyroid function. The doctor will listen to
what you have to say, hear about what difficulties you're having, and
recommend a course of action. This may be a referral to a psychiatrist. If
you are having trouble finding a good psychiatrist, again see
"Finding and working with the psychiatrist" section of
this FAQ guide for ideas.
It's a good idea to prepare materials and
questions to take with you to your appointments.
Keep a journal
of symptoms, odd or troubling behaviors, psychotic episodes, and anything
else that you want your doctor to know about. Make a list of questions that
you want your doctor to answer. "Choosing
the Right Mental Health Therapist" (information provided by the U.S.
organization SAMHSA) has an easy-to-follow procedure list for appointments,
as well as some suggestions for questions you might ask.
What if my family member refuses to see a
doctor?
Many people with schizophrenia are literally
unable to see that there's anything abnormal about them (this is commonly
called 'lack of insight' or 'poor insight'). It's almost a hallmark
characteristic of the disorder, like memory loss is for Alzheimer's disease.
There are several
physical
explanations for impaired awareness - the important thing to realize is
that your relative is most likely not being purposely obstinate, difficult,
or defensive when they deny their symptoms and refuse help.
This, however, leaves you as a concerned
family member in an awkward and extremely frustrating position. Current U.S.
laws make it very difficult to get help for someone who actively refuses it
- someone may be actively psychotic and in desperate straits, but still not
considered a serious-enough threat to themselves or others to merit
involuntary hospitalization. This is a constant source of trouble for
families dealing with mental illness. Visit the Treatment Advocacy Center
website to look up
state laws on mental illness
The best course of action depends on the
type and severity of symptoms. If the symptoms are worrisome but not
absolutely harmful yet, try locating a mental health professional or a
social worker who is familiar with dealing with psychiatric disorders. They
can discuss your relative's behavior with you, and brainstorm the best way
to get him/her help. Options will vary from state to state, based on state
law. In some areas, you can call a crisis unit (look in the telephone book
or call the hospital) that will send an evaluation team, and maybe instigate
a 72 hour psych hold. Contact a local NAMI
chapter or call their helpline (1-800-950-NAMI) to look up resources in
your area.
Family members at schizophrenia.com have
firsthand experience of what has worked for them, and what you might do to
help your situation. See
their
suggestions and advice on the schizophrenia.com website.
When patients are provided with full and
accurate information for understanding their illness and its treatment,
sometimes their insight may improve. You as a caregiver can play an
important role by providing this information, and presenting it in as
optimistically as possible. See
'How Caregivers
Can Help a Relative Accept Their Illness'.
It can be very frightening to go through
what your loved one is experiencing, and a lot of people are hesitant to
seek treatment because they are afraid of being hospitalized. If you can,
reassure your loved one that if treatment is started eary enough,
hospitalization is probably not necessary. Emphasize that medication can
make a huge difference in the way they are feeling.
If the symptoms are very severe, your best
option is to persuade a hospital ER or the police department that your loved
one is in grave danger of harming him/herself or others. Although this might
be absolutely clear to you and other family members, the current strictness
of legislation places a very narrow definition on what counts as "harm to
self or others." Try and become familiar with what the criteria is ahead of
time, so that you can choose the right words to describe the situation. If
the hospital agrees that an involunatry admittance is necessary, they will
begin a three-day (or maybe less, depending on hospital policy) psych hold.
Without a court order, they are not permitted to hold anyone involuntarily
for longer. Talk to the treating physicians about how to start court
proceedings, or see your options for 'Assisted
Treatment' (this can include benevolent coersion, conservatorship or
guardianship, conditional release, outpaitent commitment, or an extended
voluntary commitment).
An Advanced Psychiatric Directive is also an
option to discuss during times when the ill person is in control and in a
reasonable frame of mind. This legal document allows the person with the
illness to dictate what actions should be taken on their behalf (including
appointing another person to make treatment decisions) if they should become
unable to make decisions for their own well-being. Bear in mind that Advance
Directives are not appropriate for all, or maybe even the majority, of
people with schizophrenia. In order for a Directive to be an empowering
rather than a coercive tool, the person who prepares the document for
themselves must have the skills and the social support to make beneficial
decisions. For more information, and for downloadable documents to help
prepare an AD, see the
Advanced Psychiatric Directives section of the Bazelon Mental Health Law
Website.
If the person has EVER violently threatened
or actively harmed you, another person, or themselves, call 911 or an
emergency room immediately. Violence against family members of the mentally
ill is a reality, and you need to protect yourself and everyone by getting
your loved one committed.
What to do after recieving a diagnosis - how
you can help:
Whatever diagnosis is given, whether it is
schizophrenia or something else, know that there are many many patients and
families out there with the same questions, concerns, and problems that you
face. There is a wealth of information and support available to you. Here
are some things to try first:
1. Educate yourself and other family
members as much as you can about the illness, the treatments, and
long-term prospects. Greater understanding can help alleviate fears and can
make communication, treatment programs, and day-to-day coping much easier.
See Recommended Books for
a list of helpful, reviewed reading material. There is also a wealth of
online information to read here at
schizophrenia.com (where we have over 12,000 pages of information on
schizophrenia) and other websites. Other web sites include that have some
good information include:
NAMI - National Alliance for
the Mentally Ill
MentalHealth.com -
free encyclopedia of mental health information created by Canadian
psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Long.
British Columbia Schizophrenia Society - excellent resources for family
members
National Institute of
Mental Health - concise overview of different disorders, diagnoses,
treatments, options, and resoureces
Rethink - UK mental
illness charity - wealth of information for patients and family on
disorders, coping, practical matters, etc.
Check out our full list of
web-based resources,
including organizations and online reading material
Also check out our
online PDF reference
library, with links to the most helpful pdf documents on mental illness
and related issues. Ideal for printing for your own reference files, or
passing out to family/friends/teachers/employers.
2. Watch and Listen to our
archives of
internet-based audio and video files on schizophrenia, mental
illness, and related issues. Good files to start with include:
--Schizophrenia
Introduction and Overview - An Educational Video (Schizophrenia Society
of Canada)
--Schizophrenia - Second Chances - public radio
program covers the personal experiences of schizophrenia, how to help people
who don't understand they have schizophrenia, and how dramatic advances in
schizophrenia research are providing new hope for people suffering from the
disease.
--Schizophrenia: Treatment, Access, Hope for the
Future? - public radio progam invites a panel of experts to discuss
current research, treatment options, and impact on family members.
3. Build a support network as soon as you can of other families with
similar experiences. The discussion boards at schizophrenia.com are a good
place to start, but a local support group can be a long term source of
relief and resource for you during difficult times. The
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has local chapters in every U.S.
state - visit their website and find one near you. Also, consider taking a
Family-to-Family class (also through NAMI), a free 12-week education course
designed for (and taught by) family caregivers of people with severe mental
illness. This class is highly recommended by many members of
schizophrenia.com. See the
Family-to-Family website for more program information and class
schedules.
4. Find the mental health support resources in your area. Search a
state-by-state
database of available mental health services in the U.S., or try
www.rethink.org for services in the U.K.
What is the prognosis? How likely is it that
a person with schizophrenia will ever have a "normal" life?
With treatment, rehabilitation therapy, and
lots of social support and understanding, many schizophrenia patients can
recover to the point where their symptoms are more or less completely
controlled. Many are living independently, have families and jobs, and lead
happy lives. See the
success stories of some such patients on the schizophrenia.com website.
One schizophrenia.com member had the following to say about living with
schizophrenia:
"Those early years when you are first
diagnosed are very hard. Many people are very surprised by the illness
and don't know what to do. Many refuse medicines. But as time goes on,
most people learn what works. They find their best medication. They find
a way to live that is satisfying and doesn't stress them too much. They
learn not to drink too much alcohol, and to take care of themselves. The
find a good doctor, and often others help them, such as friends, priest,
or counselor. People make a decent life for themselves. They find love,
,they find work....it gets better. The key is to stick with the
medication, and to never give up."
However, although research has made great
strides in both understanding and treating the disorder, there is still much
that we don't know. We still don't know why some patients deteriorate faster
than others, why some don't respond to medication as well, why some make
good recoveries while others are unable to. It's important to realize that
while there are lots of things that the patient and the family can do to
help the prognosis, schizophrenia is a disease that sometimes takes its own
unexpected course. Setbacks are to be expected, and are not signs of failure
on anyone's part. It's important to set your own expectations and goals
(whether you are the person suffering from schizophrenia or a caregiver) to
an achievable level, and appreciate accomplishments for what they are rather
than what they're not. One schizophrenia.com member pointed out that
everyone's "climbing the ladder" of life, but someone who starts from the
bottom and manages to climb up halfway has achieved a lot more than someone
who starts at halfway but only climbs a rung or two.
There are factors in the course of the
disease that can, to a certain degree, help predict the various outcomes.
You can improve the chances for a good prognosis by
knowing what the indicators for possible relapse are, working to get the
best possible treatment as quickly as possible, and learning how to
effectively self-manage a long-term mental illness. The mentalhealth.com
website also has information on
what
family members can do to help ensure the best possible outcome.
For a good presentation on the prognosis for
people who have schizophrenia, and an update on new treatments for
schizophrenia see the
Stanford University "New Treatments for Schizophrenia" presentation.
How is schizophrenia treated?
American
Psychiatric Association's Guideline For The Treatment Of Patients
With Schizophrenia states: "antipsychotic medications are indicated for
nearly all acute psychotic episodes in patients with schizophrenia." In
addition to antipsychotic medications, some patients also take
anti-depressants or mood-stabilizers to help control related symptoms.
Medications work successfully in the
majority of patients (approximately 70% of patients will improve, according
to research - but we've also seen research that suggests the chances of any
one drug working for a person may be only 50% so people frequently have to
try more than one drug to partially or completely control the positive
symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, racing thoughts, etc). They
are not as effective in controlling negative symptoms, and may cause
side-effects of their own. See our
Medications area for
information on commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications - how they
work, how effective they are, what side-effects they cause - as well as
additional info on research studies and medications in clinical trials. See
also New
and Newer Mechanisms of Action for Antipsychotic Medications, an online
UCLA grand rounds video presentation that explains (in some detail) what
areas of the brain different drugs target, and what effects they have.
For a good presentation on the prognosis for
people who have schizophrenia, and an update on new treatments for
schizophrenia see the
Stanford University "New Treatments for Schizophrenia" presentation.
Although an important element, medication is
far from the only treatment used for schizophrenia patients. Many patients
and their families choose supplemental therapies (these can include
psychosocial or cognitive therapy, rehabilitation day programs, peer support
groups, nutritional supplements, etc) to use in conjunction with their
medications. In certain severe cases, some patients also respond to
electroconvulsive
therapy (which has been shown to be safe and effective) or transcranial
magnetic stimulation (TMS).
In the case of therapy, some research has
shown that psychotherapy and medication can be more effective than
medication alone (however, the same study noted that psycotherapy alone was
NOT a substitute for medication). The three main types of psychosocial
therapy are: behavioral therapy (focuses on current behaviors) cognitive
therapy (focuses on thoughts and thinking patterns) and interpersonal
therapy (focuses on current relationships). For schizophrenia,
cognitive-behavioral therapy has shown the most promise in conjunction with
medication.
For some supplementary treatments options
(as well as "alternative therapies" that have been disproved), see
Other Treatments
on the schizophrenia.com homepage.
For more information, see Treating
Schizophrenia - What Are the Options? (ABC News webcast). ABC news host
talks with a panel of experts about what treatments are out there and how
successful they are..
Link to video file and transcript.
(If you
don't have it, Download Quicktime video player.)
What to expect after going on medication:
Medication can greatly decrease symptoms and
help a person return to a functional level; however, every case is unique,
and medications are not perfect. It will likely take a long, frustrating
trial-and-error process before a treatment regimen is found that works best
for the patient.
When a psychiatrist prescribes any
medication, ask what symptoms it primarily treats, what the common side
effects are, what dosage he/she is prescribing, and how long it will take to
start working. Keep track of every medication (and at what dosage) you (or
your loved one) is on, what side effects it causes, which symptoms get
better and which get worse. A journal (the same journal where you write down
symptoms and behaviors) is an excellent place to do this.
Don't be surprised if the doctor keeps
switching medications, or adjusting dosages. They are not frivolously
experimenting; trial-and-error is the only way to eventually find a
combination that works. Medications are never a perfect fit: a prescription
can work for awhile and then stop working, or one that you tried previously
may work at some point in the future. You can help this process with
feedback about the different medications (see paragraph above).
An antipsychotic medication can take weeks
or even months to start working at full strength, so be patient and keep
recording things in your journal. Medications are less likely to make any
huge, noticeable changes in life; instead they should make things generally
"easier." Once you find a medication that seems to work, the
voices/hallucinations may gradually fade away and disappear - or they may
not. Sometimes these voices quiet down to a point where they are not harmful
or debilitating, and many people with schizophrenia make a decision at this
point that living with these quieter voices in the background is preferable
to going through the pain of more medication and more side-effects.
Some general things to be aware of:
Both the illness itself and many of the
medications used to treat it can make a person feel overly tired or
lethargic. You may need to sleep more than you think, and it may be
unrealistic to try and dive head-on back into your normal activities.
Recovering from schizophrenia is like recovering from any long-term illness.
Plan small goals to ease yourself back into a routine that you enjoy, and
don't expect too much of yourself at first in terms of socializing. Be aware
if others are pushing you too hard to "get back out there" - give yourself
the time and support you need.
What if I can't afford prescription
medications?
Without a good health insurance plan,
antipsychotic medications (particularly the newer ones) can be terribly
expensive. However, you have some options even if you are currently
unemployed or uninsured. Here are a few suggestions:
- Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
or disability benefits, federal funds that are available for physically or
mentally disabled persons who are unable to work. See Schizophrenia.com's
Help with SSI
page, or the Social Security Association
website for more info on programs and how to apply.
- See if you qualify for Medicare (for
elderly) or Medicaid (for low income persons) health coverage. Your doctor
or a hospital social worker can advise you on your eligibility, and help you
apply. See also "Living With Schizophrenia - Practical
Matters" in this FAQ guide for a list of federal aid programs for
disabled or low income persons.
- The older antipsychotics tend to be cheaper
than the newer ones - discuss with your doctor the possibility of using a
cheaper alternative. Be aware, though, that the older medications also may
have significantly more side-effects, and are not as effective controlling
negative symptoms
-
Information on
available low-cost medications, and what benefits are available to
mentally ill or disabled persons, is available on the schizophrenia.com
website
Finding and Working with the psychiatrist:
A good psychiatrist can and should be an
ally in the continual process of treatment and recovery. They should be
willing to work with you as an informed member of the treatment team and
ideally they should be well-informed and experienced in treating
schizophrenia and related disorders. Here are some suggestions to help you
find a psychiatrist you can effectively work with:
Hospitalization - when and why is it
necessary?
At some point or another, most people with
schizophrenia will likely have to be hospitalized for at least a short time.
Hospitalization can be voluntary (requested by the patient themselves) or
involuntary, meaning it is up to the discretion of the treating
psychiatrist, emergency room staff, or a courtroom (see
the criteria and procedures for involuntary hospitalization by U.S. state).
At the point of hospitalization, a person may be in pretty bad shape -
feeling sick, scared, out of control, and abandoned. Understandably, at the
time it's not a pleasant experience for anyone involved. But it doesn't have
to be something to fear.
Why might somebody need hospitalization,
rather than outpatient care?
- patient needs to be in a protected
environment to keep them from harming themselves or others.
- patient needs to be monitored by
trained professionals for symptoms and medication reactions.
- patient needs a safe place where they
can stabilize and concentrate on recovery.
- family needs a short respite to gather
themselves and make long-term treatment plans.
What can you get with hospital treatment
that you can't get as an outpatient?
- constant monitoring in a controlled
setting, so medications can be adjusted more quickly and accurately.
Hopefully, this means you start feeling better sooner.
- more time with a doctor and/or
therapist, maybe every day. Trained staff members are always around to
talk to about questions, concerns, or thoughts.
- group therapy, recreation programs,
vocational/social rehab (programs will vary depending on the hospital)
- A safe place to gather yourself, get
settled with medication, and stabilize so you can return to your own
life as soon as possible.
- according to one schizophrenia.com
member: "plenty of rest, free food, free laundry, you get to meet nice
people, free recreation, [and] you get a chance to draw pictures and
watch a show or two."
Many members of schizophrenia.com have
written about their experiences in hospitals (either voluntary or
involuntary) on the discussion boards. Most agree, at least in retrospect,
that getting treated in the hospital was the best thing for their health and
well-being at the time. Some of their thoughts are quoted below:
"It's nothing to be scared about. Try
the meds they give you and work with the staff. They are there to help
and want you to talk to them when you are having problems. The other
patients on the ward will have different illnesses than just
schizophrenia, like bi-polar, depression and drug addiction...Hopefully
if you go you can get things straighten out."
"I found that I was at my worst the
two times I was at the hospital. So I did not like being there at all.
But it was a place where I was safe, a place where I couldn't hurt
myself or wander off. The hospital is the place my healing started, and
I find that it was not an enjoyable experience but a helpful one."
"[T]he better your attitude about
being hospitalized and the more hope you have for yourself, the better
you will do, I think. I had faith that the medicine would help me from
the beginning, and it turned out to be true."
"[S]ometimes, as my pdocs have said
over the years, we need a "safe place" and sometimes that is the
hospital."
Once it has been determined that
hospitalization is necessary, you may have a choice (depending on insurance,
availability, and your psychiatrist's recommendations) of what hospital to
go to. Psychiatric facilities include public hospitals (state, county, or
community), university (teaching) hospitals, private psychiatric treatment
centers, and VA hospitals. Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, in his book
"Surviving
Schizophrenia" (pp. 180-188)offers the following suggestions for
evaluating psychiatric in-patient facilities:
- talk to your doctor, treating
psychiatrist, hospital staff, and other families who are familiar with
programs in the area; ask for their recommendations and reviews of
various programs
- look for a Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) accreditation. A
JCAHO team, upon invitation by the hospital, surveys patient care and
services, therapeutic environment, safety of the patient, and quality of
staff and administration. The hospital may receive full 3-year
accreditation, full accreditation with a contingency (meaning that a
follow-up inspection may be warranted), or no accreditation. Bear in
mind that accreditation is given to hospital as a whole, NOT to
individual wards. Ask for JCAHO accreditation at the hospital
administration office, or look for a certificate by the entryway or in
the lobby.
- the quality of staff, first and
foremost, should indicate the quality of the ward. Due to the staff,
even individual wards in the same treament facility may vary in quality.
- do NOT assess quality by fees charged.
Private facilities are not necessarily better than public ones. Again,
evaulations of the staff at each location should guide you.
Hospitalization is no easy experience for
friends or family members either. Especially if commitment was involuntary,
family may be hesitant about visiting, unsure of how to react when their
loved one returns home, and fearful that their loved one will never forgive
them for making that hard choice. One schizophrenia.com member had the
following thoughts about committing her child:
"In the early years, I would grieve
myself so badly I would get physically sick. I felt so much guilt if I
allowed myself the slightest amount of pleasure, so instead would stay
in continuous grief mode. It consumed me day and night - all I could
think of was, what was what my child going through at that very moment?
What kind of a Mother could I be if I dared allow myself to read a book,
go to a movie, etc. when my son was locked up...
This I tell you serves no purpose.
You need to be kind to yourself right now. Enjoying a bubble bath, going
window shopping, having a laugh, does not mean you do not care and are
not concerned. Instead it enables you to focus on helping your child and
keeping up your spirits so you can show them a positive attitude."
Keeping a positive attitude, even through
the difficult experience of hospitalization, is something that many family
members stressed as important. As one relative said, "It's so important
to be cheery & positive when you visit them in hospital. I found it helped a
lot if I just talked as if I EXPECTED him to be better soon." Some
family members are unsure about visiting, not knowing what to say or if
their loved one even wants to see them. Visiting might indeed be difficult
until medications start working - the ill person is not feeling well, and
may be angry, frightened, or even out-of-control. In retrospect, most people
who were committed agree that they needed to be hospitalized at the time,
and appreciate that someone was looking out for them. Even if your loved one
refuses to see you, or is angry with you, showing your love and support by
continuing to go is one of the best things you can do. It helps to get
through to them, even subconsciously, that they have not been abandoned.
Below are thoguhts on visiting from schizophrenia.com parents:
"He hated us for putting him in
there.... until the meds kicked in. (He was never happy we did it, but
never held a grudge that we did.) We went each evening after work all
the way to the hospital to see if he would visit with us. The answer was
always no, so we'd turn around and head for home. But we went anyway.
The reason? Because we felt (and so did the psychiatrist we had then)
that deep inside that pile of rage and paranoia was our son. And that
deep down inside he needed to know that he was loved. So we went, were
turned away, and did the same the next day or so, until the meds had
kicked in and he wanted to see us."
Other things family members can do to make
the hospital stay as easy as possible:
- Get to know the ward staff, so they
know that someone is actively interested in the welfare of that
particular patient. These are also the people who will ultimately be
able to explain to you what is going on with your loved one, and help
address your questions and concerns.
- Arrange for a tour of the facility, and
become familiar with admissions procedure, daily schedules, and visiting
hours and regulations.
- Ask about any rules regarding bringing
a patient gifts, photographs, or food.
- Ask to be notified when your loved one
is getting ready to be discharged.
- Learn about the treatment plan, and
find out what your role in it can be.
- Talk with the staff before your loved
one is discharged about how to continue care at home, what signs might
signal a relapse or a mdeication reaction, and how to make the
transition to living at home as smooth as possible for everyone.
The following online resources have more
information about the logistics and experience of psychiatric
hospitalization:
--involuntary
commitment - another section of the FAQs, deals with procedures for
commitment and common fears/concerns of loved ones making the decision.
--Let's
Talk Facts about Psychiatric Hospitalization (APA publication).
--Psychiatric
Inpatient Experiences - a personal voice on what psychiatric
hospitalization is like, and advice to make it a more positive experience.
--a
public radio show about mental hospitals (particularly Bellvue in New
York)
--Psychiatric
Hospitalization: What It's Like on the Inside (radio program)
--Returning
Home - an online booklet for families about helping a loved one
transition back into the home environment after spending time in a
psychiatric facility.
More...
( Courtesy:
http://www.schizophrenia.com/
Started in 1995,
Schizophrenia.com is a member of The Internet Mental Health Initiative, a
project of the Tides Center,
and a leading non-profit web community dedicated to providing high quality
information, support and education to the family members, caregivers and
individuals whose lives have been impacted by schizophrenia. Executive
Director: Brian Chiko, BSc, University of Santa Clara
Editor: J. Megginson Hollister, PhD, Clinical
Psychology, University of Southern California, Post-doctoral Fellowships,
University of Pennsylvania and University of Utrecht, Departments of Psychiatry.
Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology work at Harvard University affiliated Brockton
VA Hospital, Brockton, MA. )
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