SCHIZOPHRENIA

 SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders.

DEFINITION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

SCHIZOPHRENIA can be described as a pathological disorder that is more crippling than any other psychological disorders. It is characterized by disturbances in thought process, perception and affect which result in severe deterioration of social and occupational functioning

PHASES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

1. The prodromal phase: This phase is characterized by social withdrawal, impairment in role functioning, egocentric behaviour, neglect of personal hygiene and growing inappropriate affect, disturbance in communication. This phase may last for many years before deteriorating to the active phase.

2. The Active phase: This period last for at least 6months of active symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech, disturbed behaviour and negative symptoms.

3. Residual Phase: This is the period of remission and exacerbation. Residual usually follow active phase of illness.

AETIOLOGY 

The cause of SCHIZOPHRENIA is still uncertain;

The following risk factors contribute to an individual in developing SCHIZOPHRENIA

1. Hereditary: It may runs in families.

2. Chemical imbalance

3. Physique: slim people are prone to having SCHIZOPHRENIA

4. Drugs: hard drug

5. Environmental factors

TYPES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

The type of SCHIZOPHRENIA depends on the symptomatic clinical picture presented.

1. Disorganized SCHIZOPHRENIA

2. Paranoid SCHIZOPHRENIA

3. Catatonic SCHIZOPHRENIA

4. Schizo-Affective SCHIZOPHRENIA

5. Undifferentiated SCHIZOPHRENIA

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

symptoms of SCHIZOPHRENIA fall into three(3) categories;

Positive symptoms include;

1. hallucinations

2. Delusions

3. Thought disorders

4. Movement disorders

Negative symptoms includes;

1. Flat affect

2. Reduce feelings of pleasure in everyday life

3. Reduced speaking

4. Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities

Cognitive Symptoms

1. Lack of ability to understand information and use it to make decisions*

2. Trouble focusing or paying attention

3. Problems with working memory

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

1. Chemotherapy e.g Neuroleptics and others

2. Electro convulsive therapy

3. Psychotherapy

4. Parole

5. Behavioral therapy and occupational therapy

NURSING MANAGEMENT

NURSING management of SCHIZOPHRENIA requires a high sense of dedication to duty and humanness on the part of the nurses. The following are some of the general treatment modalities of managing SCHIZOPHRENIA

1. Physical needs: These include admission, observation, rest, sleep, medication and personal hygiene

2. Emotional needs: LOVE everybody need this

3. Psychosocial needs

NURSING DIAGNOSIS

1. Sleep pattern disturbance related to delusional thinking, hallucination, repressed fears evidenced by difficulty falling asleep, early morning wakening, frequent yawning, nodding off sleep.

2.  Ineffective coping related to repressed fears, inadequate support evidence by inability to meet basic needs.