These doctors diagnose and specialize in the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental, emotional, or behavioral problems. They can prescribe medications and do “talk therapy.” They can’t prescribe medicine in most states. Psychiatrists and psychologists often work hand-in-hand and treat many of the same conditions.

Treatment – Schizophrenia

• social workers.
• community mental health nurses – who have specialist training in mental health conditions.
• occupational therapists.
• pharmacists.
• counsellors and psychotherapists.
• psychologists and psychiatrists – the psychiatrist is usually the senior clinician in the team.

A psychiatrist experienced in treating schizophrenia usually guides treatment. The treatment team also may include a psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse and possibly a case manager to coordinate care. The full-team approach may be available in clinics with expertise in schizophrenia treatment.

Types of psychological treatment for schizophrenia include cognitive behavioural therapy (usually called CBT), psychoeducation and family psychoeducation. CBT is a type of psychological treatment that can help you: feel less distressed about your psychotic experiences.

Medication. Medication is known to be the cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment, and antipsychotic medications are one of the most commonly prescribed type of drugs. Antipsychotics help reduce psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and disordered thinking.

Schizophrenia: Helping Someone Who Is Paranoid

1. Don’t argue.
2. Use simple directions, if needed.
3. Give the person enough personal space so that he or she does not feel trapped or surrounded.
4. Call for help if you think anyone is in danger.
5. Move the person away from the cause of the fear or from noise and activity, if possible.
6. Focus the person on what is real.

Although nearly 80% of patients with a first episode of schizophrenia will eventually recover, most (up to 70%) will have a second psychotic episode within five to seven years.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling.

Criteria to diagnose schizophrenia

1. Hallucinations.
2. Delusions.
3. Disorganized speech.
4. Disorganized or catatonic behavior.
5. Negative symptoms (emotional flatness, apathy, lack of speech)

Simple schizophrenia is an uncommon subtype of schizophrenia first characterized by Eugene Bleuler in 1911 (Black and Boffeli, 1989). The insidious onset of prominent negative symptoms and the lack of delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorder are the essential clinical features of simple schizophrenia.