Treating Schizophrenia With Psychosocial Treatment

Numerous studies have found that psychosocial treatments as part of an overall schizophrenia treatment plan can be very helpful. This therapy helps patients who are already stabilized on antipsychotic medication deal with certain aspects of schizophrenia, such as difficulty with:

 

Learning and using coping mechanisms to address these problems allows people with schizophrenia to attend school and work, and to socialize.

 

Patients who receive regular psychosocial schizophrenia treatment also adhere better to their medication schedule and have fewer relapses and hospitalizations. A positive relationship with a therapist or a case manager gives the patient a reliable source of information, sympathy, encouragement, and hope -- all of which are essential for recovery. By explaining the nature and causes of schizophrenia and the need for medication, the therapist can also help patients acknowledge the reality of their disorder and adjust to the limitations it imposes.