Psychopharmacological Treatments for Adults with Paranoid Schizophrenia

Psychopharmacological Treatments for

Adults with Paranoid Schizophrenia

Emily Erlenbach

Liberty University

Abstract

There are many types of treatment for Schizophrenia. Paranoid schizophrenia is one of five different types of schizophrenia, of which this paper will be most concentrated. With any disorder, there is usually both therapy as well as medication used for treatment. In most cases, both medication and therapy work better than just one. Schizophrenia can be triggered by a tragic event or can be developed over time. The purpose of this research is to explore the different psychopharmacological treatments as well as some effective therapies for adults with paranoid schizophrenia. Many of the medications for schizophrenics are used for this disorder in general, not specifically paranoid type. Background information on schizophrenia is provided as well as the biological, emotional, and cognitive aspects of this disorder. All of these elements play an important part in one's prognosis. Each aspect influences those with this disorder tremendously. This is why careful attention must be placed on medication as well as therapy. Although there is no cure yet found for schizophrenia, there are options for treatment of this psychotic disorder including medications, therapy, and group homes.

Psychopharmacological Treatments for Adults with Paranoid Schizophrenia

Introduction

With all the tragedies and hardships that can occur in people's lives, there are bound to be some unfortunate consequences and suffering for them. Some people have better coping skills than others, making them less prone to develop a psychopathology as a result of tragedies. Psychopathologies not only occur because of tragic events, they can also develop over time as a result of biological reasons, such as heredity. Early signs and biological indicators can be the most obvious representations. Other reasons for the development of psychopathologies are; physical, mental, or sexual abuse, as well as brain structure or cognitive deficiencies (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). These psychopathologies often include psychotic disorders. Schizophrenia is listed first in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) under psychotic disorders.

Schizophrenia, which specifically means "Dementia Praecox", is a psychotic disorder that 20 million people worldwide have presently. Two million people have this disorder in the United States (1%), (Thomas, 2012). One percent may not seem like a large number of people, but this disorder is more common that some may think. Schizophrenia is a disorder that lasts for at least 6 months and includes at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech (American Psychiatric Press Inc., p. 298, 2000). Schizophrenia is one the top most serious and severe psychotic disorders. The early onset of the disease, most often occurring between ages 15 and 30 years, and its chronic course make this a particularly disabling disorder for patients and their families (Mueser & Jeste, p. 3, 2008). Since this disorder usually causes people to become isolated and anti-social, family and friend relationships may suffer.

This disorder can be difficult to fully comprehend and treat. In order to better understand and categorize this disorder, subtypes have been developed which organize the different types of Schizophrenia. This disorder has five different subtypes. The five subtypes of Schizophrenia are; Paranoid, Disorganized, Catatonic, Undifferentiated, and Residual (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). Each subtype shares some degree of similar symptoms.

Paranoid type is characterized by well-organized delusional beliefs, frequently reflecting persecutory or grandiose beliefs, frequent auditory hallucinations, and little or no negative or disorganized symptomatology and has the best prognosis. Disorganized type is described as flat and inappropriate emotional expression, severely disorganized speech and behavior, delusional ideas, hallucinations, and behavior characterized by fragmentation. People with catatonic type display highly irregular movement or actions, and echo words spoken by others, and duplicate others movements. The final type, undifferentiated type, displays schizophrenic symptomatology in an array that does not fit other categories (Maddux & Winstead, p. 251, 2012). Each subtype also displays psychotic symptoms both positive and negative. Those with paranoid type tend to focus more on hallucinations and delusions than unsystematic speech or affect. This is the main difference between paranoid type and the other types.

Other material provided in this paper include, background information as well as biological, cognitive, and emotional aspects of schizophrenia. Theories of origin are also explored as well as prognoses and treatments (both psychopharmacological and therapy). Since there is no cure for schizophrenia, considerable focus is placed on specific comprehensive treatment plans options.

History of Schizophrenia

Although people have had symptoms of schizophrenia dated back many centuries, there has been continued controversy over specific analysis including categorizing and diagnostic accuracy. Disputes over concepts and appropriate models of mental illness extend back to classical times and reports of schizophrenia-like illness can be found even in ancient literature (Mueser & Jeste, p. 3, 2008). However, the first comprehensive description dates to the beginning of the 18th century (Mueser & Jeste, p. 3, 2008). Before the DSM was developed, people may have been confused as to what delusions and hallucinations were and why people were suffering from these bizarre thoughts. Limited and inadequate therapeutic opportunities during the first half of the 20th century meant that thousands of patients with schizophrenia were warehoused in huge psychiatric hospitals (Mueser & Jeste, p. 3, 2008). This is why many people who struggled with psychotic disorders were placed into insane asylums.

The term schizophrenia was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century by Eugen Bleuler (1857-1939), a Swiss psychiatrist and the medical director of a mental hospital in Zurich (Maddux & Winstead, p. 248, 2012). The term has to do with one's lack of emotional stability. He developed "fundamental symptoms" of schizophrenia that describe patient's phases of illness (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). These symptoms included delusions, hallucinations, and