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a patient discusses schizophrenia treatments with a psychologist

Schizophrenia Treatments

Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain, the cause and cure of which is not known. Only a small portion of the brain's exact problem is understood. In this condition, a physical ailment creates a serious mental problem. Schizophrenia treatment is aimed at reducing the symptoms and disease management. A person suffering from schizophrenia symptoms thinks that he is a unique individual, a higher being, and so everyone is trying to do him in. He or she suffers from delusions and hallucinations. His disillusioned thoughts take over and become far removed from reality. Anti-psychotic drugs have been administered for years and are the first line of schizophrenia treatment. Though there is no outright cure, these medications can reduce psychotic symptoms and manage their neurological effects.

Other drugs, like clozapine, were as effective as the newer ones. But their side effects were far greater than new medications like risperidone and olanzapine. There are numerous drugs under development, medications can be very effective in preventing delusions and hallucinations. When the schizophrenia symptoms disappear, it is important drugs are slowly weaned from to prevent relapse. Later in the schizophrenia curative treatment, anti-depressive, anti-anxiety and anti-convulsive drugs are usually administered to treat other symptoms and side effects of the schizophrenia treatment.

Schizophrenia Treatment Medication is often supported by psychotherapy. Proper psychiatric care, family support, and group therapy are some of the schizophrenia treatment options that are often successful. Researchers are diligently searching for the root cause of schizophrenia. Possible causes include genetics, as the disease tends to run in families. The National Institute of Mental Health is funding drugs that may able to cure schizophrenia, not just lessen schizophrenia symptoms.

Last Updated: March 14, 2017