More recently, the diagnosis of “schizophrenia” was almost a sentence, meaning that a person will never be able to be a full-fledged member of society. Patients were forced to spend a long time in psychiatric clinics. Sometimes medications had an extremely negative effect on their personality.

However, today the situation has changed. Thanks to the development of medicine, many patients can be in their usual environment, receiving effective treatment in a relaxed home environment. In most cases, this is a huge plus for patients. However, their relatives are a completely different matter, for them this is an additional burden and responsibility.

After all, schizophrenia is an incurable disease and most often progresses over time. And regardless of the form of the course of the disease and the severity of the symptoms, relatives and friends must be prepared for any situation that may happen to a patient suffering from schizophrenia. And for this they need to have some information.

How to choose a hospital?

As a rule, hospitalization for schizophrenia is necessary in 2 cases – during the first episode (for the purpose of examination, diagnosis, adequate therapy) and with repeated exacerbations, with the appearance of symptoms of schizophrenia (arousal, the appearance of delusional ideas, etc.)

It is worth noting that the treatment of schizophrenia is approximately the same in both private and public clinics. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the choice not of the hospital, but of the attending physician. You need to make sure that he has experience in the treatment of schizophrenia. In addition, an important role is played by mutual understanding between the doctor and the patient, the doctor and the patient’s family.

After all, it is mutual understanding that is one of the key points of successful treatment, and the treatment of this pathology is always long and continuous. Despite this, extremes are also undesirable, care should be taken that the patient does not become too dependent on the attending physician. Continuity between the inpatient doctor and the doctor who will monitor the patient at the outpatient stage is also very important.

How is schizophrenia treated?

It has been proven that therapy is more effective in the absence of psycho-emotional stress. To this end, it is necessary to involve the patient’s relatives in the treatment process. To do this, relatives must know and understand the basic aspects of the disease.

Most often, exacerbations occur as a result of the patient’s refusal to take medications. Family members should understand for themselves once and for all that strict control over the intake of medicines is necessary. Relatives should be able to convince, persuade, force the patient to take the medication prescribed by the doctor.

Also in many clinics there are special psychotherapeutic programs for patients with schizophrenia. Their activities are also aimed at combating relapses of the disease. It will not hurt to get acquainted with these programs and relatives of patients.

Rehabilitation

Unfortunately, some people with schizophrenia need permanent isolation. However, most return to their normal lives after the symptoms of the disease are relieved. If relatives are unable to care for the patient, there is the possibility of placing him in a special boarding school.

In these institutions, patients receive qualified psychological and medical assistance. They don’t look like hospitals, but dorms. There, patients are in a favorable environment, which contributes to the speedy improvement of their condition. Employees regularly monitor the intake of medicines. These institutions have programs aimed at the social adaptation of patients.

Advice for family members of a schizophrenic patient

1. Feel free to send a sick relative to the hospital

Unlike outpatient treatment, in the hospital there is the possibility of constant monitoring of the patient, correction of therapy, study of changes in laboratory tests. Do not be afraid of treatment in a hospital – after it the patient may well return to normal life.

2. Let Go of Guilt

No need to blame yourself for the illness of a loved one. At the moment, there is no proven evidence that poor parenting or lack of attention from loved ones can cause the development of schizophrenia. Feeling guilty in such a situation is absolutely inappropriate.

3. Contact a specialist in time

It is quite common for people with schizophrenia to have some relationship problems during childhood and adolescence. However, it is not at all necessary that a child experiencing communication difficulties may turn out to be mentally ill. However, if any suspicious symptoms appear, it is better to consult a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

4. Keep calm

Remember that it is necessary to carefully protect the peace of the patient at home. Stress or any emotional overload can trigger an exacerbation of schizophrenia.

long-term remission can be achieved with adequate therapy . In addition, do not lose hope – medicine is developing quite actively, more and more effective means are appearing. It is possible that scientists will find a method that will get rid of schizophrenia.