College of Science: Schizophrenia Patient Care and Interventions

This report provides a comprehensive overview of schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterized by difficulties in thinking, feeling, and behaving. It begins with an introduction defining mental health and schizophrenia, followed by a detailed discussion of the aetiology and pathophysiology of the disorder, including genetic and environmental factors, and the involvement of neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate. The report then explores assessment methods such as physical examinations and psychiatric evaluations, along with treatment options, including both first and second-generation antipsychotics, and various therapeutic interventions. Nursing interventions are also highlighted, emphasizing the importance of understanding and managing delusions and hallucinations, promoting social engagement, and monitoring medication and lifestyle factors. The report also discusses the impact of schizophrenia on individuals, families, and the community, concluding that schizophrenia is a complex disorder requiring multifaceted care and support.

Schizophrenia

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................1
Aetiology and pathophysiology..............................................................................................1
Assessments, treatment and nurse interventions....................................................................2
Impact schizophrenia..............................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................4

Introduction
Mental health refers to appropriate ability of an individual to feel, think and respond properly
Schizophrenia refers to a mental disorder in which a person is not able to think, feel and behave
properly. It includes the fact that combination of genetics, environment and altered brain
structure is known to be a cause behind occurrence of schizophrenia. However, it involves the
situation of an individual when they cannot think and behave clearly (Searles, 2018). In context
of this assignment, it is based on the mental health disorder of schizophrenia that may occur
among people. This essay will focus on pathophysiology of selected mental disorder and its
assessment, treatment as well as nursing interventions. It will also include impact of
schizophrenia on individual, family and community.
Main Body
Aetiology and pathophysiology
The aetiology includes evaluating cause of specific health problems to provide appropriate
treatment. Schizophrenia can be defined as a condition in which an individual interpret real
aspects in abnormal way. It includes the psychological state of having combination of
hallucinations, delusions and extremely disorder thinking as well as behaviours.
The pathophysiology includes symptoms, causes and diagnosis to analyse functional
abnormalities in human body which are explained below. However, the schizophrenia has
number of symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and disorganised thinking which develop
in problem of daily living of an individual. It consist several other signs including extremely
disorganised or abnormal motor behaviour, negative symptoms, withdrawal from friends &
family, drop in performance at school, trouble in sleeping, irritability or depressed mood and
lack of motivation. The pathology of schizophrenia includes use of physical exam, brain
screenings and psychiatric evaluation to analyse actual cause of it to treat the same effectively.
The aetiology includes cause of specific health issue like schizophrenia which are mentioned
here. The causes of schizophrenia include the combination of genetics and brain chemistry which
are responsible for developing this psychological disorder. It includes the major contribution of
environmental factors that create schizophrenia. However, it includes the condition when natural
brain chemicals including neurotransmitters known as dopamine and glutamate that has potential
to contribute for occurrence of schizophrenia. It involves the cause when brain chemicals get
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interrupted in their functioning due to genetic factors and environmental components then it may
leads to the psychological condition of schizophrenia.
The mental health problem of schizophrenia includes several risk factors such as family history
of schizophrenia, pregnancy or birth complications, taking mind altering drugs during teen age or
adulthood etc. This psychological problem has several complications which may occur if not
treated as soon as possible. It involves the complication of suicidal thoughts, anxiety & obsessive
compulsive disorders, abuse or alcohol or drugs, inability to work, financial problems or
homelessness, social isolation, health & medical issues, being victimised and aggressive
behaviour (Alanen, 2018). Moreover, it is necessary to gain medical consultation immediately to
get rid of earlier symptoms by solving cause of schizophrenia for avoiding complications and
gain better health condition.
Assessments, treatment and nurse interventions
In context of schizophrenia, it has been analysed that assessment methods includes different
diagnosing procedures to evaluate cause behind the abnormal mental state for make decision of
treatment effectively. It includes the utilisation of conducting physical examination to analyse
symptoms and brain screenings by CT scan and MRI to identify internal brain problems causing
schizophrenia. However, it is observed that psychiatric evaluation is favourable for evaluating
mental condition by communicating about thoughts, moods, delusions, hallucinations, substance
use and potential for violence. It includes the use of Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorder (DSM-5) for assessing the entire psychological condition for treating problem of
schizophrenia.
The treatment of schizophrenia includes variety of medications processes which are helpful to
address the selected mental health problem. It includes use of second generation of
antipsychotics such as Aripiprazole (Abilify), Asenapine (Saphris), Brexpiprazole (Rexulti),
Cariprazine (Vraylar), Clozapine (Clozaril, Versacloz), Iloperidone (Fanapt), Lurasidone
(Latuda), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Paliperidone (Invega), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Risperidone
(Risperdal) and Ziprasidone (Geodon). However, it involves utilisation of first-generation of
antipsychotics including Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Haloperidol and Perphenazine. It
consist long-acting injectable antipsychotics like Aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena, Aristada),
Fluphenazine decanoate, Haloperidol decanoate, Paliperidone (Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza)
and Risperidone (Risperdal Consta, Perseris). It includes use of individual therapy, social skills
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training, family therapy and vocational rehabilitation & supported employment. The several
condition of schizophrenia requires hospitalisation and use of electroconvulsive therapy for
treating the same.
Nursing interventions for schizophrenia includes determine feelings of delusions and perception
of client about environment to provide appropriate care facilities. It is necessary to distract client
from delusions which helps to improve their condition. Meanwhile, it is requires to use gestures
and avoid touching them which helps to reduce feat factor of patient (Tomasik and et. al., 2016).
However, it is essential to encourage client and involve in social activities for improving mental
state of an individual. It is required to maintain medication dosage, sleeping patterns and avoid
alcohol intake for an individual feel relieved.
Impact schizophrenia
The impact of schizophrenia on an individual is to affect their daily living because of their
disorganised thinking and disconnection from self is responsible for interrupting their daily life.
It includes their condition of feeling delusions and hallucinations that impact on their daily
living.
Family get affected if they have a family member suffering from schizophrenia as they become
emotional hurt and weak. It includes their state of being stressed and fear of occur this problem
along with facing negative comments from friends, neighbours, relatives and society.
The impact of schizophrenia on community involves feat factors among citizens when they heard
about behavioural disturbance of an individual. It includes their reaction to avoid patient and
their family members separated from the society (Birnbaum and Weinberger, 2017). However,
the society can support patient and their family but they behaviour inappropriately which may
leads to make worsen condition of an individual.
Conclusion
From the above project, it has been concluded that schizophrenia can be defined as a
psychological disorder in which an individual is not able to think, feel and behave in clear
manner. It includes various symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, depression etc. which
are caused due to genetic and environmental factors. However, schizophrenia can be diagnosed
by using CT Scan & MRI for providing medications to treat the mental health problem.
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References
Books and journals
Alanen, Y. O. (2018). Schizophrenia: Its origins and need-adapted treatment. Routledge.
Birnbaum, R., & Weinberger, D. R. (2017). Genetic insights into the neurodevelopmental origins
of schizophrenia. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 18(12), 727.
Searles, H. F. (2018). Collected papers on schizophrenia and related subjects. Routledge.
Tomasik, J. & et. al. (2016). Neuroimmune biomarkers in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia
research, 176(1), 3-13.
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