Treatments

(Information from the Mental Health Association NSW)

Schizophrenia treatment typically involves a combination of medication and therapy.

Medication: 

Antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment. These control symptoms like delusions or hallucinations. 

Rehabilitation:

Help for finding and maintaining accommodation, education,  employment, and social skills and reintegration to the community.

CBT:

Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), helps individuals develop coping strategies and is provided by a psychologist. supportive counselling may also be beneficial.  

Hospitalisation:

Can be voluntary or involuntary, for when a person becomes too unwell or their treatment needs to be changed or stabilised.

Support Groups:

Patients and their families meet those in similar situations and share experiences, and find support, education.

Learning:

Learning about the illness helps you to cope with your experience.

Help from relatives and friends:

1. be consistently there

2. learn about the illness

3. encourage patient to comply with medicatiion

4. have important emergency numbers ready

5. personalise an emergency plan with early warning signs

6. take care of yourself

Talking helps:

Many people have a normal life despite having schizophrenia.

1. contact a mental health organisation near you.

2. maintain regular contact with your family doctor and look after your physical health too

3. be referred to a psychiatrist by your doctor