Symptoms of schizophrenia can come and go.
They are active in a psychotic episode and require acute treatment.
Acute treatment is aimed at ending the current acute psychotic
episode.
It may include hospitalization.
When the symptoms
are mostly controlled, maintenance treatment is continued
on a long term basis to improve functioning and prevent future
psychotic episodes.
The person may or may not have persistent
symptoms during this phrase of maintenance treatment.
Successful treatment involves the use of medication, psychotherapy
and rehabilitation.
- Anti-psychotic medication: Medication is necessary in
both the acute and maintenance treatment phrases. During
the acute phrase, medications help relieve the acute psychotic
symptoms. After the acute phrase, ongoing anti-psychotic
medication greatly reduces the chance of relapse. Medication
may cause side effects. It is important to discuss medication
with the doctor who prescribes it.
- Psychotherapy: It helps persons with schizophrenia learn
about their illness and develop coping skills, and have
emotional support.
- Psychosocial rehabilitation: It aims to enhance the
abilities of persons with mental illness in their daily
living.
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