SCHIZOPHRENIA: UPDATED RESEARCH FROM THE NIMH (4 CE)

Course overview

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has been recognized throughout recorded history. It affects about 1 percent of Americans. Available treatments can relieve many of the disorder's symptoms, but most people who have schizophrenia must cope with some residual symptoms as long as they live. Nevertheless, this is a time of hope for people with schizophrenia and their families. Many people with the disorder now lead rewarding and meaningful lives in their communities. Researchers are developing more effective medications and using new research tools to understand the causes of schizophrenia and to find ways to prevent and treat it. This course focuses on the NIMH 2007 brochure presenting information on the symptoms of schizophrenia, when the symptoms appear, how the disease develops, current treatments, support for patients and their loved ones, and new directions in research. An additional Module focuses on NIMH Science Updates and discussion about the latest schizophrenia research. Learning Objectives: * Specify the symptoms of schizophrenia which include positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms (or cognitive deficits). * Distinguish the causes of schizophrenia, genetic and environmental factors. * Delineate the specific antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia, the older antipsychotics and the atypical antipsychotics. * Specify the elements of psychosocial treatment of schizophrenia - illness management skills, integrated treatment for co-occurring substance use, rehabilitation, family education, cognitive behavioral therapy, selfhelp groups.