Schizophrenia: Other Treatment

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Other Treatment

During relapse, a person with schizophrenia usually needs to be in supportive and well-organized surroundings, such as in a hospital or crisis care center. A person may need additional medications or other treatments during relapse.

During remission, a person with schizophrenia can benefit from professional counseling, such as:^{1 15}

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy, especially compliance therapy (teaching and motivating the person to continue with treatment), which has been shown to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce the distress associated with the illness.¹¹
• Family therapy, which helps improve compliance with treatment.
• Assertive community treatment (ACT), which is a community rehabilitation service.
• Education about schizophrenia, which can improve the quality of your life and the lives of those who care about you.
• Vocational therapy or job training, which can evaluate and train you, and then place you in a job where you can be successful and improve your sense of self-worth.
• Social skills training, to help you develop life skills such as communication and managing frustration.

In some cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option. During this procedure, which is done under a general anesthetic, brief electrical stimulation to the brain is given through electrodes placed on the head. The stimulation produces a short seizure that is thought to balance brain chemicals.

Last updated:	February 05, 2008
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC