Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Prepared by:
Mary Ruth V. Enriquez, RN MAN
Schizophrenia
Seems to strike adolescents and young adults .
Between the ages of 16 to 35 years old
Peak onset for men is 15 to 25 years of age, for women 25 to 35 years of age.
Rare in young children
The term schizophrenia (which means SPLIT MIND) was first used by Swiss
psychiatrist, Eugene Bleuler.
Schizophrenia
Paranoid type
Catatonic type
Disorganized type (Hebephrenic)
Undifferential type
Residual type
Paranoid schizophrenia
Catatonic schizophrenia
Catatonic excitement:
Disorganized schizophrenia
a. The individual may have odd mannerisms, exhibit extreme social withdrawal,
or neglect hygiene and appearance.
b. Onset usually occurs before age 25, and the course may be chronic.
Residual schizophrenia
Medical treatment
Current opinion holds that schizophrenia is not curable (because no cause
can be isolated) but it is certainly treatable.
Medications , ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), and psychotherapy are
indicated.
Medications prescribed: antipsychotics. These create decreased dopamine
level, which lead to extrapyramidal side effects.
Some common antipsychotic medications:
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Olangzapine (Zyprexa)
Clozapine (Clozaril)
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Psychotherapy : includes individual , group, and family therapy.
ECT: used in severe cases or difficult to treat and is not used until all other methods
of therapy have failed.
Nursing Interventions
1. Never reinforce hallucinations, delusions , or Illusions: it is necessary to
keep the patient in reality as the nurse knows it.
2. Never whisper or laugh when the patient cannot hear the whole conversation:
it is important, especially with patients who have paranoid
schizophrenia, to avoid any situation that might encourage
suspiciousness.
3. Avoid placing the patient in situations of competition or embarrassment: people
with schizophrenia do not usually have the emotional stability to handle
stressful situations. Patient s may revert to former behaviors or refuse to
participate in therapy if they feel embarrassed.
4. Trust : it is crucial for a trusting relationship to exist between the nurse
and patient. Keep promises, be honest and consistent in all aspects of the
patients treatment plan.
5. Milieu:
the treatment setting must be calm and conducive to making progress.
It must be structured in a way that helps promote healthy behaviors and
minimize anxiety.
Providing written instructions or information boards can help promote
reality and self responsibility behavior.
Furnishing the treatment area in colors that are considered calming, such
as blues and greens, may be helpful.
Setting limits on noise, physical activity, and types of music in the
treatment area may help to provide a setting in w/c patients can focus on
healing.