Schizophrenia is a lifelong and severe mental health disorder that affects the way a person interprets the world around them. Symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusional thinking, and flawed logic, all of which can interfere with the ability to function in daily routines and engage in healthy relationships. With the right treatment, however, many people afflicted with schizophrenia are able to manage their symptoms and live productive, satisfying lives.
What is the best treatment for schizophrenia?
The most effective treatment for schizophrenia involves an integrated and multifaceted approach, involving some combination of:
- Medication to alter the brain chemistry and reduce psychotic symptoms
- Psychotherapy to help restructure thinking and stress response behaviors
- Psychoeducation to help the patient and their loved ones learn more about the condition, coping strategies, and signs of relapse
- Social-skills training to improve functioning and foster independence
The best treatment for schizophrenia is customized to the individual, and may include additional support such as drug and alcohol treatment, vocational rehabilitation, or other services aimed at helping the person achieve optimal health and the highest quality of life.
Effective medication treatment for schizophrenia
Schizophrenia medication is often key to successful symptom management. Without medication to block certain chemical receptors in the brain, the hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking will persist, making it difficult or even impossible to achieve progress with any other treatment methods. Antipsychotics are the most commonly prescribed schizophrenia medications. There are two classifications of antipsychotic medications:
- Atypical antipsychotic medications
Known as second-generation antipsychotics, these medications are currently used as a first-line treatment. They have proven more effective than first-generation antipsychotic medications in treating certain schizophrenia symptoms but with fewer side-effects. Examples of atypical antipsychotics include:
Abilify (aripiprazole)
Fanapt (iloperidone)
Geodon (ziprasidone)
Invega (paliperidone)
Clozaril (clozapine)
- Typical antipsychotic medications
These first-generation antipsychotic medications were developed before atypical antipsychotics, and are still effective in treating a range of schizophrenia symptoms. But because they increase the risk of some adverse side effects, they are generally used only when atypical antipsychotic medications have not provided sufficient symptom relief. The use of typical antipsychotic medications increases the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary and abnormal movement of the jaws, lips, and tongue. Examples of typical antipsychotic medications include:
Haldol (haloperidol)
Loxitane (loxapine)
Navane (thiothixene)
Prolixin (fluphenazine)
Both typical and atypical antipsychotic medications have helped reduce symptoms of schizophrenia for countless people, providing them with a chance to live healthy, happy lives. But they don’t work for everyone. And in many cases, troubling, adverse side effects can be just as disruptive to the individual’s quality of life as the symptoms of schizophrenia. There’s no doubt that schizophrenia treatment has come a long way in the last half-century, but we still have a long way to go.
Schizophrenia research trial in San Diego | Synergy Research Centers
At Synergy Research Centers in Lemon Grove, we’re currently enrolling for a number of schizophrenia studies, both inpatient and outpatient. Eligible participants must be between the ages of 18 and 65, diagnosed with schizophrenia, willing to take study medication or participate in study research, and willing to undergo physical exams and have vitals taken. Studies run between 35 days and 30 weeks, and may require an inpatient stay or a series of outpatient visits, depending on the specific study. Participants will be compensated for their time and travel. For more information on current or past studies, or to determine your eligibility, fill out our contact form today.