Advancements in Schizophrenia

Treatments and advancements for those suffering from Schizophrenia as well as many other mental illnesses are constantly being developed or put into the research phase to test their effectiveness.

Recently in the June/ July 2006 issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, high nicotine use has been linked to patients with Schizophrenia. Approximately 85% of those suffering from the mental condition are heavy smokers. This high use of nicotine has been the cause of a large number of mortalities. However, cigarette smoking has been proven to have beneficial effects on the negative symptoms that schizophrenia patient’s experience. These recent studies have shown that those patients who smoke cigarettes may have less akathisia episodes, which are described as episodes of motor restlessness.

For many years in the past, those treating the mentally ill thought that the patients’ awareness of his or her disorder and symptoms were very important in the treatment process. However, recent finding have had opposing results in those patients with Schizophrenia. When the patient has insight into his or her illness, there is a higher chance that the patient will experience forms of depression and a poorer quality of life. If the patient never truly accepts or is aware of the symptoms he or she experiences then the restrictions that are placed on the individual’s life are never realized either. On the other hand, doctors and medical professionals are encouraged to present all the clinical options to the patient to avoid him or her to experience helplessness.

Many communities provide vocation programs that are put in place to benefit those suffering for different forms of illnesses. Studies have shown that these community programs have helped greatly in treating schizophrenics. Those who have completed one of these programs have had an increased ability to