Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample
Schizophrenia is chronic and complex mental health characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms. Delusions render patients’ persistent beliefs despite an agreement to the contrary or evidence (McCutcheon et al., 2020). Hallucinations entail perceived experiences that occur in absence of external stimulus, while disorganized thinking and speech are jumbles and do not make sense. Abnormal motor behavior heightens unpredictable agitation, while negative symptoms diminish emotional expression and experience of pleasure when the disorder is active.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
DSM-5 Criteria for Schizophrenia has A to F components that determine whether a patient should be diagnosed with a mental health condition. For Criterion A, two or more of the mentioned five symptoms should be present for one month or less if successfully treated. In this case, at least one of the symptoms should be delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech (Noel et al., 2020). In Criterion B, the level of functioning in interpersonal relations, work, or self-care is marked below the level achieved prior most of the time since the onset of the disturbance. In C, continuous disturbance signs should persist for at least six months. The six-month duration should include at least one month of disturbances (or less if treated successfully) to meet Criterion A. Criterion D rules out schizoaffective disorder if no significant manic or depressive symptoms occur during the active phase or if e mood episodes occur during the active phase. In Criterion E, the disturbance is not attributed to a medical condition or physiological effects of drugs or medications. In Criterion F, a diagnosis of Schizophrenia is made if prominent hallucinations and delusions are experienced in case there is a history of childhood-onset of autism or communication disorder.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
Although Schizophrenia is not curable, treatment options target symptoms, prevent relapse and promote adaptive functions allowing the patient to be integrated into the community (Nucifora et al., 2019). Despite using other intervention strategies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), pharmacological treatment remains the cornerstone of Schizophrenia treatment, especially in the acute phase of the disease. Maroney’s (2020) report on updated pharmacotherapy treatment of Schizophrenia should suit the patients’ characteristics and preferences. The report asserts that Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGAs) such as Clozapine are recommended first-line treatment for acute Schizophrenia, although First Generation Antipsychotics (FGAs) may be used for some patients. While FGAs efficiently reduce positive symptoms such as hostility, and hallucinations, their extrapyramidal symptoms preclude their utility as first-line options. Therefore, SGAs like Clozapine have been used in patients with poor responses to other agents or treatment-resistant Schizophrenia.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
References
Maroney, M. (2020). An update on current treatment strategies and emerging agents for the management of Schizophrenia. Am J Manag Care, 26(3 Suppl), S55-S61.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
McCutcheon, R. A., Marques, T. R., & Howes, O. D. (2020). Schizophrenia—an overview. JAMA psychiatry, 77(2), 201-210.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
Noel, J. M., & Jackson, C. W. (2020). ASHP therapeutic position statement on the use of antipsychotic medications in the treatment of adults with Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 77(24), 2114-2132.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
Nucifora Jr, F. C., Woznica, E., Lee, B. J., Cascella, N., & Sawa, A. (2019). Treatment resistant schizophrenia: Clinical, biological, and therapeutic perspectives. Neurobiology of disease, 131, 104257.(Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia Comprehensive Nursing Paper Sample)
FAQs
What are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed based on specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must exhibit characteristic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms, and these symptoms must persist for a significant portion of time over a one-month period, with impairments in social or occupational functioning lasting for at least six months.
What are the 5 A’s of schizophrenia?
The “5 A’s” of schizophrenia are a mnemonic device used to remember the key symptoms of the disorder: Affective flattening (reduced emotional expression), Alogia (poverty of speech), Anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in activities), Apathy (lack of motivation), and Attentional impairment (difficulty concentrating).
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