Schizophrenia in Adults and Children and Adolescents

Schizophrenia in Adults and Children and Adolescents
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation
Schizophrenia in Adults and Children and Adolescents
Schizophrenia refers to severe mental disorder when patients interpret reality abnormally. The disease may result in delusions, hallucinations, and excess disordered thinking and behavior which impairs one’s daily functioning. It can also be disabling in extreme cases (Walsh & Roche, 2020). The disorder affects both adults and children, and those with it require life-long treatment. Early treatment can help in getting symptoms under control before the patient develops serious complications. Although Schizophrenia shows similar symptoms between adults and children, there are differences in the evidence-based treatment plans in both groups, and forcing a child to take Schizophrenia medication after diagnosis attracts negative ethical and legal implications.
Compare at least two evidence-based treatment plans for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia with evidence-based treatment plans for children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Two common evidence-based treatment plans for adults include social skills training and family-based services. Social skills training is offered since many individuals with the disorder lack efficient social skills (Smeland et al., 2020). The training aims at correcting their social skills deficit by teaching the patients ways which are socially appropriate for expressing their emotions and making requests. The plan increases the likelihood of individuals achieving their goals, living independently, and developing relationships. Teaching is done in a systematic approach using such behavioral techniques as role playing, modeling, shaping, and positive reinforcement.
Family-based services are offered since the disorder affects the entire family. As such, psycho-education is offered to guide the family to work towards recovery. The plan involves the clinician and family meeting to discuss the challenges the family is experiencing (Howrigan et al., 2020). Families are then taken through educational sessions on learning basic facts on mental health, communication skills, coping skills, ways of working towards recovery, and problem-solving skills. Patients involved in this plan end up showing fewer psychiatric symptoms, less burden, more satisfaction, and improved work functioning. Whereas some members undergo a few lessons, others require more to record improved healthcare outcomes.
On the other hand, the evidence-based treatment plans available for children and adolescents with schizophrenia are complicated since the disorder is complex in children and adolescents. The treatment plan involves combining various therapies so as to meet the health needs of the child or adolescent. The treatment plans aim at reducing the symptoms associated with the condition (American Psychiatric Association, 2020). This may be achieved through antipsychotic medications and specialized educational programs. Medications are administered to act against the symptoms, although they do not cure the disorder. Such medications also help in reduc...