Relapse Prevention in Treatment of Schzophrenia

RELAPSE PREVENTION IN THE TREATMENT OF

This research reviews the psychiatric disorder of schizophrenia, with an emphasis on recent findings related to relapse prevention among patients suffering from the disorder. Schizophrenia is a disorder identified by the presence of "characteristic psychotic symptoms during the active phase of the illness and functioning below the highest level previously achieved . . . , and a duration of at least six months . . ." (American Psychiatric Association, 1987, p. 187).

Patients suffering from the disorganized type of schizophrenia exhibit "incoherence, marked loosening of associations, or grossly disorganized behavior, and . . . flat or grossly inappropriate affect" (American psychiatric Association, 1987, 196). During some phase of the illness, schizophrenia "always involves delusions, hallucinations, or certain characteristic disturbances in affect and form of thought" (American Psychiatric Association, 1987, 187). The key feature of schizophrenic delusions is a marked departure from consensual reality.

Schizophrenia is classified as subchronic when the signs of the disorder are "more or less" continuously present for at least six months but for less than two years (American Psychiatric Association, 1987, 195). When the signs persist for two years or longer, the disorder is classified as chronic (American Psychiatric Association, 1987, 195).

Functioning below the highest level previously achieved

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racterized for at least one week by bizarre delusions -the definition of bizarre delusions is intentionally not culture-free (Kendler, Spitzer, and Williams, 1989, 956). A third psychological disorder may also lead to a diagnosis of schizophrenia: a patient's behavior has been characterized for at least one week by prominent hallucinations "of a voice with content having no apparent relation to depression or elation, or a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other" (American Psychiatric Association, 1987, 194). To be diagnosed as schizophrenia, a patient's functioning must be below the highest level previously achieved and must characterize individual behavior, and the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and mood disorder with psychotic features must have been eliminated. Further, it must be possible to attribute the disturbance being experienced by the patient to an organic factor. When a patient has a history of autistic disorder, schizophrenia may be diagnosed only "if prominent delusions or hallucinations are also present" (American Psychiatric Association, 1987, 195). Paranoid schizophrenia may not be diagnosed unless diagnoses of both

Category: Psychology - R