Help someone with schizophrenia
Helping Someone with Schizophrenia - HelpGuide.org
When a loved one has schizophrenia
The love and support of family and friends plays an important role in schizophrenia treatment and recovery. If you have a loved one with schizophrenia, you may be struggling with any number of difficult emotions, including fear, guilt, anger, and frustration. You may feel helpless in the face of your loved one’s symptoms, worried about the stigma of schizophrenia, or confused and embarrassed by their strange behaviors. You may even be tempted to hide your loved one’s illness from others.
But it’s important to remember that a diagnosis of schizophrenia is not a life-sentence. Recovery is possible, especially with your love and support. To help someone with schizophrenia, it’s crucial you:
- Accept the illness and its difficulties.
- Not buy into the myth that someone with schizophrenia can't get better or live a full and meaningful life.
- Do your best to help your loved one feel better and enjoy life.
- Pay attention to your own needs.
- Maintain your sense of humor and remain hopeful.
While dealing with a loved one’s schizophrenia can be challenging, the following strategies can help you guide your loved one on the road to recovery without losing sight of your own hopes and dreams.
Tips for helping a loved one with schizophrenia
Educate yourself. Learning about schizophrenia and its treatment will allow you to make informed decisions about how best to cope with symptoms, encourage your loved one to pursue self-help strategies, handle setbacks, and work towards recovery.
Reduce stress. Stress can cause schizophrenia symptoms to flare up, so it's important to create a structured and supportive environment for your loved one.
Set realistic expectations. It's important to be realistic about the challenges of schizophrenia.
Help your loved one set and achieve manageable goals, and be patient with the pace of recovery.
Empower your loved one. Be careful that you're not taking over and doing things for your loved one that they are capable of doing. Support your loved one while still encouraging as much independence and self-help as possible.
Helping someone with schizophrenia tip 1: Encourage treatment and self-help
Encouraging treatment and self-help is a cornerstone of helping a loved one with schizophrenia. While medication is an important element of schizophrenia treatment, your loved one's recovery depends on other factors as well. Self-help strategies such as changing to a healthy diet, managing stress, exercising, and seeking social support can have a profound effect on your loved one's symptoms, feelings, and self-esteem. And the more someone does for themselves, the less hopeless and helpless they'll feel, and the more likely their doctor will be able to reduce their medication.
Your encouragement and support can be crucial to your loved one starting and continuing a program of self-help.
[Read: How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Accept Treatment]
Starting treatment
Often, the first challenge of treatment is convincing the person with schizophrenia to see a doctor. To people experiencing delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia, there is no need for medical intervention because the voices and conspiracy theories are real.
If a loved one with schizophrenia is reluctant to see a doctor, try to:
Provide options. Your loved one may be more willing to see a doctor if he or she has some control over the situation. If your relative appears suspicious of you, suggest that another person accompany them to the appointment. You can also give your loved one a choice of doctors.
Focus on a particular symptom. Someone with schizophrenia may resist seeing a doctor out of fear of being judged or labeled “crazy.
” You can make the doctor less threatening by suggesting a visit in order to deal with a specific symptom such as insomnia or lack of energy.
Tips for supporting a loved one's schizophrenia treatment
Seek help right away. Early intervention makes a difference in the course of schizophrenia, so help your loved one find a good doctor and start treatment.
Be collaborative. When your loved one has a voice in their own treatment, they will be more motivated to work towards recovery.
Encourage self-help. Since schizophrenia is often episodic, periods of remission from the severest symptoms can provide an opportunity for your loved one to employ self-help strategies that may limit the length and frequency of future episodes.
Tip 2: Build your support network
To better support and care for someone with schizophrenia, you need to find help, encouragement, and understanding from others.
The more support you have, the better it will be for both you and your loved one.
Recognize your own limits. Be realistic about the level of support and care you can provide. You can't do it all, and you won't be much help to a loved one if you're exhausted, so seek help where you can.
Join a support group. Meeting others who know first-hand what you're going through can help reduce feelings of isolation and fear. Support groups provide an invaluable venue for the relatives of people with schizophrenia to share experiences, advice, and information.
Turn to trusted friends and family members. Ask loved ones if you can call on them for support. Most people will be flattered by your request.
Seek out new friends. If you don't feel that you have anyone to turn to, it's never too late to build new friendships and improve your support network.
Take advantage of support services. Ask your loved one's doctor or therapist about respite services and other support available in your area, or contact local hospitals and mental health clinics.
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Tip 3: Monitor medication
Once in treatment, careful monitoring can ensure that your loved one stays on track and gets the most out of medication.
Take side effects seriously. Many people with schizophrenia stop taking their medication because of side effects. Bring any distressing side effects to the attention of the doctor, who may be able to reduce the dose, switch to another antipsychotic, or add medication to counter the side effect.
Encourage your loved one to take medication regularly. Even with side effects under control, some people with schizophrenia refuse medication or have trouble remembering their daily dose.
Medication reminder apps, weekly pillboxes, and calendars can help. Some medications are available as long-lasting weekly or monthly injections instead of daily pills.
Be careful to avoid drug interactions. Help your loved one avoid any dangerous drug interactions by giving the doctor a complete list of the drugs and supplements they're taking. Mixing alcohol or illegal drugs with schizophrenia medication is harmful, so talk to the doctor if your relative has a substance abuse problem.
Track your family member's progress. A mood-tracking app, journal, or diary is a good way to track changes in your family member's behavior, outlook, and other symptoms in response to medication.
Tip 4: Watch for signs of relapse
Stopping medication is the most frequent cause of relapse in schizophrenia, so it's extremely important that your family member continues to take all medication as directed. While relapse can occur even if a person is taking medication as prescribed, you may be able to prevent a full-blown crisis by recognizing the warning signs and taking immediate steps.
Common warning signs of schizophrenia relapse
- Insomnia
- Social withdrawal
- Deterioration of personal hygiene
- Increasing paranoia
- Hostility
- Confusing or nonsensical speech
- Strange disappearances
- Hallucinations
Tip 5: Prepare for crisis situations
Despite your best efforts to prevent relapse, there may be times when your loved one's condition deteriorates rapidly and hospitalization is required to keep them safe. Having an emergency plan ready for an acute psychotic episode will help you handle the crisis safely and quickly. A good emergency plan for someone with schizophrenia includes:
- Emergency contact information for your loved one's doctor and therapists.
- The address and phone number of the hospital you will go to for psychiatric admission.
- Friends or relatives who will take care of other children or dependents while you deal with the crisis.
It's also wise to go over the emergency plan with your family member. The crisis situation may be less frightening to your loved one if they know what to expect during an emergency.
10 tips for handling a schizophrenia crisis
- Remember that you cannot reason with acute psychosis.
- The person may be terrified by their own feelings of loss of control.
- Don't express irritation or anger.
- Speak quietly and calmly, do not shout or threaten the person.
- Don't use sarcasm as a weapon.
- Decrease distractions by turning off the TV, computer, any fluorescent lights that hum, etc.
- Ask any casual visitors to leave—the fewer people the better.
- Avoid direct, continuous eye contact.
- Avoid touching the person.
- Sit down and ask the person to sit down as well.
Tip 6: Explore housing options
Someone with schizophrenia needs a stable, supportive place to live, but finding the right living situation can be challenging.
- Can your loved one care for themselves?
- How much support do they need with daily activities?
- Does your loved one have a drug or alcohol problem?
- How much treatment supervision does your loved one require?
Living with family
Living with family can be a good option for someone with schizophrenia if their family members understand the illness well, have a strong support system of their own, and are able to provide whatever assistance is needed.
At-home arrangements are less likely to be successful if the person with schizophrenia uses drugs or alcohol, resists taking medication, or is aggressive or uncooperative.
| Choosing the Right Housing Option for Someone with Schizophrenia |
| Living with family works best if: |
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| Living with family is not advised if: |
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Try not to feel guilty if you are unequipped to house someone with schizophrenia. If you can't look after your own needs or those of other family members while caring for your loved one, they will be better off elsewhere.
Residential options outside the family home
If an at-home living arrangement isn't the right fit, explore the residential facilities in your community.
Options in your area may include:
Residential treatment facilities or 24-hour care homes. A more structured living environment for those requiring greater assistance or suffering an acute psychotic episode.
Transitional group home. An intensive program that helps individuals transition back into society and avoid relapse after a crisis or hospitalization.
Foster or boarding homes. A group living situation offering a degree of independence, while providing meals and other basic necessities.
Supervised apartments. Residents live alone or share an apartment, with staff members available on-site to provide assistance and support.
Tip 7: Take care of yourself
Taking care of yourself isn't selfish.
In fact, it's just as important for your loved one with schizophrenia that you look after your own health needs.
Schizophrenia can place an incredible amount of stress on the family. It can take over your life and burn you out. And if you're stressed, you'll make the person with schizophrenia stressed and trigger or exacerbate their symptoms.
Since adopting healthy lifestyle habits is also important for your loved one in managing schizophrenia symptoms, by taking care of your own health you can act as a role model. You may even be able to pursue some of these steps together, helping to motivate and encourage each other.
Connect with others. Social interaction with someone who cares about you is the most effective way to relieve stress. It's important for both you and the person with schizophrenia to have other people you can connect with face-to-face—someone you can talk to for an uninterrupted period of time, someone who will listen without judging or continually becoming distracted.
That person may be a friend, family member, clergy member, or professional therapist.
Get regular exercise. Physical activity reduces stress and releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energize your spirits and make you feel good. Whether you exercise alone, with a friend, or with your loved one with schizophrenia, aim for 30 minutes of activity on most days, or if it's easier, three 10-minute sessions.
Eat a healthy diet. What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Minimize sugar and refined carbs, foods that quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy. Boost your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish, fish oil, walnuts, and flaxseeds to help improve your focus, energy, and outlook. The same diet tips can help manage your loved one's symptoms, too.
Practice acceptance. Instead of dwelling on the unfairness of your loved one's diagnosis, accept your feelings, even the negative ones.
It can make a huge difference in your ability to manage stress and balance your moods. See HelpGuide's Emotional Intelligence Toolkit for more.
Seek out joy. Making time for fun isn't indulgent—it's necessary. Schedule time into your day for things you enjoy, whether it's spending time in nature, visiting friends, or reading a good book. Encourage your loved one with schizophrenia to do the same.
Look after your health. Neglecting your health will only add to the stress in your life. Get enough sleep and stay on top of any medical conditions.
Use relaxation techniques. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or progressive muscle relaxation can put the brakes on stress and bring your mind and body back into balance.
Helplines and support
- In the U.S.
Call 1-800-950-6264 or visit NAMI.
org - UK
Call 0300 5000 927 or visit Rethink: Schizophrenia
- Australia
Call 1800 18 7263 or visit Sane Australia
- Canada
Visit Canadian Mental Health Association for links to helplines and services
- India
Call the Vandrevala Foundation Helpline at 1860 2662 345 or 1800 2333 330
Last updated or reviewed on February 24, 2023
How to Help Someone with Schizophrenia: 10 Do’s and Don’ts
Schizophrenia can be managed with treatment and support.
You can help your loved one by being compassionate and encouraging them to stay on their care plan. This can help lead to symptom relief and better quality of life.
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that involves a disconnect from reality.
Along with symptoms that affect concentration and memory, people living with schizophrenia experience psychosis, which includes hallucinations and delusions.
They might lose interest in their usual activities, struggle with self-care, and withdraw from loved ones.
These symptoms can have a far-reaching impact. Not only do they often make daily life difficult and contribute to emotional distress, they can also lead to isolation, sleep problems, or substance use — any of which can affect well-being and complicate treatment.
If your loved one lives with schizophrenia, you might wonder how you can best offer support. Here’s a look at seven ways to help, along with some tips on what to avoid.
When you recognize and understand the symptoms of schizophrenia, your loved one’s behavior may seem less confusing or frightening.
There’s a lot of stigma around schizophrenia, much of which relates to key symptoms of psychosis:
- Delusions, or beliefs not supported by factual evidence. They might believe someone is poisoning their food, that they have special powers, or that some outside organization controls their behavior.
- Hallucinations, or seeing, hearing, and feeling things no one else can. They might hear music, voices that say cruel things, or see (and touch) animals that aren’t really there.
- Cognitive symptoms, including trouble concentrating, speaking clearly, or answering questions. They might use words or phrases that don’t make sense, say things you can’t understand, or repeat the same phrases.
Someone with schizophrenia might believe they’re really a celebrity or a historic or religious figure.
Called a delusion of grandeur, this isn’t the same as dissociative identity disorder, where someone has a separate, additional personality.
They might also make unusual or jerky motions and move restlessly. And they might seem agitated or upset.
It’s a myth, though, that schizophrenia automatically makes someone violent or dangerous.
Explore schizophrenia symptoms in more detail.
When your loved one describes their hallucinations or delusions, you might feel uncertain about how to respond.
It’s normal to not know what to say, but you can still validate their confusion, frustration, and fear — even when you don’t fully understand their experience.
Instead of dismissing these symptoms as lies or stories, remember the things they see, hear, and believe are completely real to them.
Consider how you’d feel, and how you’d want others to support you, if you firmly believed something that everyone else denied.
What to say
To avoid dismissing their experience, try something like:
- “Seeing a strange figure in your house must be so frightening. Is there anything I can do to help you feel safer?”
- “I understand not wanting to go out when you feel someone watching you.
Would you have an easier time running errands if I kept you company?”
They might seem disinterested in talking and offer “flat” responses, but difficulty expressing emotion is a common schizophrenia symptom.
You might also notice their speech patterns seem unusual or unfamiliar, and you might not always understand what they’re trying to say.
All the same, give them time to express themselves in their own way. Let them talk without trying to finish their sentences or fill in blank spaces. It may take more time to have a conversation, but making the effort can help them feel supported and connected.
You might want to do whatever you can to make things easier for your loved one. Maybe you have plenty of suggestions or advice for changes they can make to improve their well-being.
They’re still their own person, though, and they might not need or want you to take complete charge.
Instead, ask, “What can I do to help you out?”
Or try making suggestions that still leave them in control:
- “I noticed you don’t have many clean clothes left in the closet.
Would it help if I threw in a load of laundry for you?” - “Do you need groceries? I can take you to the store today.”
- “I was thinking we could make dinner together, but why don’t we do the dishes first?”
If they say they don’t need help, it’s best to respect that — as long as their safety isn’t at risk.
You might think getting some fresh air or tidying up would do wonders for their health. When you insist they do something they don’t want to do, though, they might feel frustrated and pull back instead.
Self-isolation and social withdrawal are often early signs of schizophrenia. Your loved one might lose interest in things they used to enjoy: work or school, hobbies, and spending time with you and other loved ones.
Keeping in contact provides your loved with important social and emotional support. Staying connected also gives you the opportunity to encourage them if they seem reluctant to get support or continue treatment.
How to check in
- Make a habit of checking in regularly, even just to ask if they need anything.
They may always turn down offers of help, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop asking. - Send a text or give them a quick call to say, “I was thinking about you. How are you doing today?”
- Suggest activities to do together, like watching a movie, taking a walk, or playing a game.
- Offer encouragement when they reach out first. “I’m so glad to hear from you. Thanks for calling!”
Once they appear, schizophrenia symptoms can come and go throughout life. Creating a plan for what to do when this happens can make it easier to manage symptoms if they return or get worse.
This plan might include things like:
- key signs of a schizophrenia episode
- numbers for their psychiatrist, therapist, and other professionals
- strategies for coping with distress, including stretches, physical movement, or deep breathing
- phone numbers for emergency contacts
- their preferred first steps to getting help, such as checking in with their therapist or heading to the emergency room
- a list of current medications, allergies, and other important health information
- who should take care of their children or pets and look after their house
If you feel comfortable doing so, put your own number on the list and let them know they can call you in a crisis.
Also include numbers for crisis helplines that can provide immediate help and support, like:
- Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255
- The International Association for Suicide Prevention website for crisis helplines and other resources outside the United States
People with schizophrenia typically need long-term treatment and support from mental health professionals.
Medication for schizophrenia can improve symptoms and sometimes help keep them from coming back.
Therapy, on the other hand, can help people living with schizophrenia learn to recognize signs of an episode and explore strategies to manage symptoms and the distress they cause.
You can ask about treatment and offer support in positive, supportive ways without making them feel criticized or helpless.
Do’s
- “How is therapy going? Has your therapist been helpful?”
- “I remember you mentioned having a hard time remembering to take your medication.
Would it help to set a reminder on your phone?” - “Can I give you a ride to therapy or take you to pick up your prescription this week?”
Don’ts
- “Are you still going to therapy?”
- “Did you take your medication today?”
- “You know you can’t stop treatment even if you feel better, right?”
Family therapy can also provide the opportunity for family members to get more information about treatment plans and productive ways to offer support.
Schizophrenia doesn’t just make it difficult to concentrate and stay focused at work or school. It can also affect motivation and ability to handle daily tasks, including:
- chores
- self-care
- interaction with loved ones
Pushing them to make changes they aren’t ready for, like returning to full-time work, generally won’t help.
Instead, encourage them to work toward small goals, especially things you can do together. You might try:
- helping them stay physically active by hiking together on weekends
- encouraging them to eat regular meals by preparing dinner together
- brainstorming a nighttime routine that helps them get to sleep easier
- helping them list off relaxing hobbies to try, like yoga, watercolor painting, or gardening
- encouraging healthy coping skills, like listening to music or practicing mindfulness meditation
Many people have trouble accessing community support with finding work or living arrangements.
With their permission, you can also offer support by acting as their advocate and making phone calls on their behalf.
If you’re not able to offer that support, you could offer to contact someone else they trust instead.
There are plenty of ways to show support for someone with schizophrenia, but there are a few things you’ll want to avoid doing.
Challenging or denying hallucinations and delusions
Many people think it’s best to gently counter hallucinations or delusions by saying something like, “That’s not real, or I would see it, too.”
Yet these symptoms are very real to them, and denying their reality often just ends up driving them away.
They may decide they can’t trust or confide in you since you don’t believe them. A lack of trust can make it more difficult to support them and encourage them to get help for symptoms.
Offering support doesn’t mean pretending to believe in the hallucinations or delusions. You can simply say:
- “It must feel so upsetting to hear those voices.
” - “That sounds so confusing and stressful.”
Doing everything for them
When your loved one is unable to do chores, errands, or daily tasks, you might try to help by taking over those responsibilities.
But it’s often more helpful to encourage them to take steps toward doing these things themselves and offering support when needed.
You can also ask if there’s anything specific getting in the way of tasks:
- If they haven’t done laundry because they ran out of laundry soap and feel afraid of leaving the house, you could offer to do a grocery run.
- If they can’t prepare meals because a voice threatens them whenever they pick up a knife, you might help them chop a few days’ worth of vegetables in advance.
You can also offer to help them plan and schedule out weekly responsibilities when you spend time together.
Blaming or judging
Your loved one can’t help having schizophrenia, and they can’t control the symptoms they experience.
Even with medication and therapy, hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms may never go away completely.
Offering compassion and respect is the best way to support them and maintain your connection, even when their behavior confuses or frustrates you.
If you feel overwhelmed or burned out, it’s always OK to help them reach out to another support person or professional.
If your loved one talks about suicide or dying or has serious symptoms of psychosis, help them get immediate care.
Signs of a severe episode of psychosis might include:
- not recognizing their surroundings or loved ones
- not knowing who they are
- saying things that don’t make sense
- talking about hurting themselves or others
- engaging in behaviors that put them in danger, like trying to drive or go outside while disoriented
Check their crisis plan for emergency contact numbers and their preferred approach to treatment. Stay with them, if possible, or contact another support person to keep them company.
If you can’t find their crisis plan and they seem very distressed, it may be time to call 911 or the nearest psychiatric hospital. Explain that your loved one has schizophrenia and that you believe they’re having an episode of psychosis.
In the meantime:
- Give them space.
- Avoid touching them without asking first.
- Speak in a calm, quiet voice.
- Keep any directions simple, clear, and easy to follow.
- Narrate your actions, like, “I’m going to make a phone call now” and “Is it all right if I come sit next to you?”
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that may never fully go away.
Professional treatment and support can go a long way toward helping your loved one get relief from symptoms and build coping skills.
Don’t forget, though, that your compassionate support can also make a big difference by motivating them to seek help for symptoms and keep up with their treatment plan.
Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy.
Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.
How can I help someone with schizophrenia?
If there is a person suffering from schizophrenia in your environment, keep in mind the following:
- It is difficult to care for the sick
- Nobody is to blame for the fact that a person falls ill
- Schizophrenia is incurable, despite all the efforts of loved ones
- Hallucinations and delusions are new the reality of the patient, part of his life
- A patient with schizophrenia is not lost to society and loved ones, competent treatment can return him to society
- Even the best specialists can make mistakes, when choosing a therapy one should not give up and give up
In this section:
1.
Learn more about schizophrenia collect maximum information about the disease 1.2 . Schizophrenia is associated with many myths, which makes communication difficult and makes it difficult to understand the actions of the patient. Timely receipt of reliable information about the diagnosis can contribute to the success of therapy and long-term remission.
2. Become familiar with the first signs of a relapse
The symptoms of schizophrenia are multifaceted and constantly changing. But a number of signs may indicate a worsening of the patient's condition 2 :
loss of appetite;
state of anxiety, restlessness;
sleep disorder;
suspiciousness, the appearance of fears, the emergence of a feeling or confidence in the presence of a large number of enemies;
complaints about the appearance of voices in the head;
difficulty concentrating.
If these symptoms appear, seek immediate medical attention and check if the patient is taking antipsychotics.
3.
Stay tunedLook for communities and public organizations, adaptation centers that include patients and their relatives, subscribe to specialized sites and pages of specialized groups. This will make it easier to access information about new treatments and get support during difficult times.
4. Monitor the patient
People with schizophrenia need to take medication throughout their lives. The treatment regimen is prescribed by the doctor. But when patients feel well, they often forget about the pills. The help of relatives is to monitor compliance with the therapy regimen.
5. Make sure the patient is safe
Schizophrenia affects thinking and self-care. Therefore, friends and relatives need to periodically check in what conditions a sick person lives. Help around the house is often needed.
6. Help to find something to do
It is important for the patient to focus on the activity that can bring joy.
At the same time, any goals should be realistic and quickly achievable. Difficulties with concentration often interfere with solving complex problems. Therefore, joint activities are best divided into several short stages 1 .
7. Never forget your needs
When caring for a sick person, it is difficult to find a balance between caring for him and your own personal life. But in order to avoid emotional burnout, you need to:
find time to rest:
talk to your loved ones about your feelings;
stay in touch with friends, spend time on hobbies, sports;
critically perceive the behavior of the patient, do not take his actions, insults to heart.
Sources:
- NIMH, Schizophrenia, 2016. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml [Accessed Jul 2019]
- NHS, Living with schizophrenia, 2016. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/schizophrenia/living-with/ [Accessed Jul 2019]
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Diagnosis of schizophrenia is made after analysis of symptoms.
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Role of schizophrenia caregivers is extremely important, survey commissioned by Janssen shows
Caregivers of schizophrenia are extremely important, survey commissioned by Janssen shows a more open and enlightened discussion of treatment options for schizophrenia
BIRSE, BELGIUM, 10 October 2016 – Today, on World Mental Health Day, Janssen is presenting the results of the pan-European study Let's Talk About Schizophrenia Treatment: A Survey of Patients and Carers. The survey was conducted by the independent marketing research agency Fieldwork International (part of Ipsos MORI) to determine the level of respondents' awareness of treatment methods, their feelings and preferences.
A total of 166 adults with schizophrenia and 468 caregivers were interviewed.
A survey conducted in 12 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) made it possible to determine which factors most determine the comfortable psychological state of people exercising caring for those with schizophrenia. These include: the impact of the disease on daily life, the risk of exacerbation/hospitalization, receiving support in addition to medication. 94% of those surveyed indicated that they had to be reminded to take their medications to the people they cared for, with 49% have to do this quite often.
“ Caring for a person with schizophrenia has a significant impact on the lives of those caring for them ,” said Mia Mannico, President of the European Federation of Associations of Families of Persons with Mental Illness (EUFAMI). — The findings support our own survey, which found that one in five carers of people with mental illness feel so overwhelmed that they cannot perform their duties effectively.
It is essential that caregivers are also aware of treatment options so that they can participate in making an informed decision about an individualized treatment plan ".
The survey showed that adult patients with schizophrenia would like to improve their treatment. So, almost a quarter ( 23% ) were dissatisfied with the current therapy , and 14% of them - were extremely dissatisfied . At the same time, more than a quarter ( 27 % ) believe that were not informed about all available treatment options , a fifth of respondents ( 21% ) did not discuss alternative options with their doctor before starting therapy.
« Ensuring that patients with schizophrenia take their medications as directed by their doctor is critical to minimizing the risk of an exacerbation. They should be satisfied with their individual treatment plan , said Nikka Karkkainen, President of the Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN)-Europe.
— If such patients express a preference for a particular therapy, then we strongly encourage healthcare providers to review their suggestions to evaluate their suitability ".
Treatment is an important aspect of the lives of people with schizophrenia and those caring for them. Today, the market offers a variety of therapy options: from drugs for daily use to long-acting drugs.
“ At Janssen, we understand that the most effective treatment decisions are made through open, professional discussions involving both healthcare professionals and those with schizophrenia and their caregivers, ,” said Jane Griffiths, Group President Janssen companies in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa). - Schizophrenia is a complex disease that has a profound effect on the patient himself, as well as on his family and friends. It is important that all parties are aware of the available treatment options. Treatment should be tailored to the individual needs of the individual and help them live a fulfilling life .
”
Janssen has extensive experience in psychiatry and neurology and is committed to improving the lives of people with mental illness. More than 60 years ago, Janssen developed one of the first treatments for schizophrenia and continues to invest significant resources to expand treatment options and meet the needs of people with severe mental disorders.
About schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness characterized by severe, disabling symptoms that affect all aspects of daily life. Schizophrenia affects people in all countries, all socioeconomic groups and cultures. Its prevalence around the world is approximately the same - the disease develops in one in a hundred people under the age of 60, the risk of the disease in men is slightly higher.
The mechanisms and causes of schizophrenia are not fully understood. It is believed that various factors acting together contribute to the development of the disease.
