Beyond the prescription pad: psychosocial treatments for individuals with schizophrenia.
Individuals with schizophrenia face multiple barriers to the achievement of optimal health, including apathy and poor concentration, sedative effects of medication, and poverty and lack of access to health education and treatment programs. In addition, the symptoms of the disease negatively affect their social functioning, which may result in isolation and lack of social support. In addition to providing psychiatric care and monitoring, both generalist nurses and advanced practice psychiatric nurses may assess physical and psychological risk factors, monitor medication responses, and provide health promotion to these individuals. Health promotion for individuals with schizophrenia includes psychosocial treatments to prevent relapse (e.g., education on the importance of treatment adherence) and to promote recovery (e.g., involving family members in treatment when possible). This article describes the key elements of recommended psychosocial treatments, briefly reviews the evidence for these treatments, and discusses clinical implications for all psychiatric nurses.
Beebe
Lora Humphrey
LH
University of Tennessee, College of Nursing, Knoxville, USA. lbeebe1@utk.edu
D003142:Communication; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support