How to Prevent Schizophrenia Relapse

Schizophrenia can be a devastating mental illness that can impact a patient's quality of life and affect her family and friends as well. At its worst, schizophrenia can keep the patient from functioning in everyday life and may require hospitalization. Fortunately, there are effective treatments, such as medication and therapy, that can get the symptoms under control and allow the patient to live a relatively normal life. This can be shattered by a relapse, so relapse prevention is critically important.

Instructions

• 1

  Attend regular cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions. According to "Psychiatric News," research in Britain has shown cognitive-behavioral techniques can help a schizophrenic patient recognize delusional thinking and offset its effects.

• 2

  Take medication as directed. Many schizophrenic patients will stop their medication when they are doing well. They may not like the side effects and believe that because their disorder is under control, the drugs are no longer needed. Unfortunately, stopping the medication can allow active symptoms to return.

• 3

  Watch for specific early danger signs that may indicate a relapse, such as hyperactivity, sleep disturbance, social problems, fatigue, hostility, pervasive thoughts, compulsive behavior, and delusions or hallucinations. According to Web4Health, all of these might indicate that a patient is beginning to relapse. If she recognizes them, she should immediately talk to her psychiatrist so the relapse can be stopped.

• 4

  Have family and friends watch for the early danger signs of relapse. According to "Psychiatric News," taking an approach that involves the schizophrenic patient's entire support system may be able to catch the signs more quickly than the patient himself can. If they start to show up, the patient should contact his doctor and allow his family and friends to share their information and observations.