Schizophrenia is probably one of the least understood mental illnesses, largely because of how wide-ranging its symptoms can be. It affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, and those living with it often feel as though they’ve lost touch with reality.
The World Health Organization notes that schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder affecting approximately 24 million people worldwide, or about 1 in every 300.
Fortunately, several highly effective treatments can help manage this condition, notes Dr. Pablo León Ortiz, neuropsychiatrist at ABC Medical Center. Broadly speaking, treatments for schizophrenia fall into two categories:
Pharmacological Treatment
Medication-based treatments fall into two main families.
The first includes typical antipsychotics, which have been in use for the past 70 years. Their effectiveness is well established, but they can cause unwanted side effects for patients, including movement disorders, drowsiness, sedation, or a sense of slowed thinking.
The second includes second-generation, or atypical antipsychotics, which are more modern. These medications tend to have a better profile for effects on thought processes, although they carry a higher risk of metabolic side effects, such as weight gain or increased blood lipid levels. Despite this, they tend to be highly effective medications that significantly improve patients’ quality of life, notes Dr. León.
Choosing the right medication for a schizophrenia patient isn’t straightforward, since there’s no single universally effective treatment, and different patients respond differently to the same medication. Because of this, choosing the best option depends heavily on each individual case.
Non-Pharmacological Treatment
Beyond medication, patients living with schizophrenia can also benefit from other types of interventions.
Psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation are all tools that help support many of the mental processes that can be affected by this condition.
It’s also important to involve patients in social, physical, and interpersonal activities, since although medication serves its purpose, achieving social reintegration is a vital part of the patient’s overall treatment, notes Dr. León.
At ABC Medical Center’s Neurology Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
