If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of schizophrenia, you’re probably experiencing a range of complex emotions. One emotion that may catch you by surprise is relief. After years of mood altering symptoms or behaviors that feel out of your control, a diagnosis can sometimes bring immense relief. You begin to understand that there was an explanation for your symptoms, and that you were not to blame. As you learn more about your condition, you can find treatment, learn ways to manage your symptoms, and gain confidence in your ability to live a productive, satisfying life, and maintain healthy relationships. Your education starts with your doctor. Here are some important questions to get you started.
What is schizophrenia?
No matter how much research you may do online or elsewhere, hearing directly from a mental health professional can help provide you with a clearer understanding of what schizophrenia is—and is not. Asking this question to your doctor directly also gives you the chance to ask further questions for clarification and get a sense of the doctor’s level of compassion and knowledge about the subject.
What led you to diagnose me with schizophrenia?
Unfortunately, there are quack doctors out there who throw diagnoses around without much evidence to back them up. Reputable health care professionals across the United States use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as an authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental health disorders. It is currently in its 5th edition, known as DSM-5, and in it, schizophrenia is listed with a clear set of criteria for diagnosis. Your doctor should go over these criteria with you and compare them to your symptoms. If they do not, or if they are dismissive of the question, you may want to get a second opinion.
Are you experienced in the treatment of schizophrenia?
A general doctor can prescribe schizophrenia medication, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re experienced in schizophrenia treatment. The most successful treatment usually involves a team of providers, and your GP will play a role, but it’s best to have a psychiatrist with significant experience in the treatment of schizoprhenia leading the team. If your doctor claims to have experience in the treatment of schizophrenia, ask some follow-up questions to ascertain the depth and breadth of their experience.
What treatments are available for schizophrenia?
Once your schizophrenia diagnosis has been confirmed, treatment is an important next step. If your doctor suggests a specific treatment right away, you have the right to ask as many questions as you want about all the available treatments. Successful schizophrenia treatment usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. There are numerous medications and therapies, and you may want to ask further questions about how they differ from one another, what the side effects are, and how effectively they relieve symptoms.
Why are you recommending this type of treatment for me?
Chances are, your doctor will recommend that you start with a particular medication. You are not obligated to go with their recommendation, but asking about their choice will help you understand more about their approach. They may have had success with this medication in the past, or maybe it’s a mild treatment and they want to see how you do with it before giving you anything stronger. There could be any number of reasons. It’s also always helpful to see how a doctor responds to the questions you ask.
Do you currently have other patients you’re treating for schizophrenia?
This is a good follow-up question to the previous one because it can help give you an idea of whether their experience is ongoing or in the past. Researchers continuously work toward more and more effective treatments for schizophrenia, and the methods are continuously evolving. If your doctor has current patients they’re treating for schizophrenia, you can ask follow-up questions to determine whether or not they’re using the latest treatments.
Are there any alternative treatments for schizophrenia?
Doctors whose practices center around the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental health disorders often read related publications, join associations, and attend conferences where they network with other professionals in their field. In these environments, they learn about new medications, new therapies, alternative treatments, and research studies for brand new treatments that are not yet available to the general public. This is a good question to ask because it may jog their mind about a new clinical trial for schizophrenia or other alternative treatment they heard about recently.
Study seeking patients with schizophrenia in San Diego | Synergy Research Centers
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, you may be eligible to participate in one of our schizophrenia research studies at Synergy Research Centers in San Diego. For more information or to determine your eligibility, give us a call at (888) 539-0282 or fill out our contact form today.