Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects about 20 million people in the world. The illness characterizes itself by having distorted rational, observations, thinking, having a sense of self as well as conduct. The people suffering from schizophrenia present with hallucinations and delusions(WHO, 2019).Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

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The condition affects the educational and occupational performance of those affected by the mental disorder. Early Onset Schizophrenia is when it onsets before the age of 18, while very early onset schizophrenia is seen in those below 13 years of age (Grover & Avasthi, 2019). Child onset schizophrenia is rare but happens to those below 6 years, moreover the peak age of the illness is seen in the range of ages 15-30.  In EOS, the males are more predominant than females but as the age onset increase, there is equal distribution between the two (Grover & Avasthi, 2019).Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

Comparing treatment plans of adults and children

Treating schizophrenia has its main objective in preventing having a relapse, helping in the enhancement of functioning using adaptive measures and treating symptoms to help the ill get back to the society(Patel et al., 2014). Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.There may be a persistence in symptoms though pharmacotherapy is sought to be a good way to manage schizophrenia. Adults diagnosed with the condition may be treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is a non-pharmacological approach and also the use of second generation antipsychotic drugs(Patel et al., 2014). However, in children and adolescents, a treatment regime of second generation anti-psychotics and CBT are both involved in treating the illness.Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay. The non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment regimens are helpful in gaining a long-term outcome towards schizophrenia treatment. The second-hand generation anti-psychotics are deemed more appropriate into the first stage treatment as they have less extrapyramidal symptoms(Divac et al., 2014). The drugs are used for both adults and adolescents. FDA has also some approved drugs to help treat schizophrenia including aripiprazole, olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine. Even though the second generation anti-psychotic and FDA approved drugs have a positive effect on the patient, they may bring complications such as hyperlipidaemia that is risky as it increases the chances of developing heart conditions. CBT can be used alone in adults to help them deal with schizophrenia while in children, the therapy is helps children make the right decisions in a manner that is less impaired.Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

Legal and Ethical Issues

The legal  and ethical issues applied on treatment of children with schizophrenia is dependent on the stage of development the patient is in as an explanation is deemed appropriate about their condition and the possible treatment that can be given(Marsh et al., 2019). However, due to the age of the child, it is the parents’ decision to choose the treatment for the child.Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay. Consent from the parents before treatment of the child is supposed to be given. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is thereforetasked with forming clear communication with the parents to help them know the benefits and risks associated with the prescribed medication therapy(Marsh et al., 2019).Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

In terms of ethical care, the weighting of the possible risks from pharmacotherapy and the risks of the condition being untreated should be considered. It is therefore the role of a psychiatric mental nurse practitioner to weigh the pros and cons of treatment when considering the legal and ethical implications involved in the treatment of minors with schizophrenia(Aydın Er, 2017).Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

Conclusion

Schizophrenia affects the lifestyle of both adults and children affecting the ability to rationally think and the ill getting hallucinations and delusions. Both adults and children are affected by the condition but can be treated using both pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological measures such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or both combined. However, consideration should be put in place when prescribing considering the legal and ethical measures put in place in order to provide quality care.Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

Early Onset Schizophrenia

Children and adolescents with schizophrenia have more difficulty functioning in academic or work settings, and significant impairment usually persists into adulthood. They may have speech or language disorders and in some cases borderline intellectual functioning. These individuals are more likely to complete suicide attempts or die from other accidental causes. Schizophrenia is characterized by positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and behavior disturbance. Negative symptoms include blunted affect and attention, apathy, and lack of motivation and social interest.Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

In this Assignment, you compare treatment plans for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia with treatment plans for children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia. You also consider the legal and ethical issues involved in medicating children diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Compare evidence-based treatment plans for adults versus children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia
• Analyze legal and ethical issues surrounding the forceful administration of medication to children diagnosed with schizophrenia
• Analyze the role of the PMHNP in addressing issues related to the forceful administration of medication to children diagnosed with schizophrenia

• Review the Learning Resources concerning early-onset schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.

Resources

American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• Standard 10 “Quality of Practice” (pages 73-74)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders”

Giles, L. L., & Martini, D. R. (2016). Challenges and promises of pediatric psychopharmacology. Academic Pediatrics, 16(6), 508-518. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2016.03.011

Hargrave, T. M., & Arthur, M. E. (2015). Teaching child psychiatric assessment skills: Using pediatric mental health screening tools. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 50(1), 60-72.

McClellan, J., & Stock, S. (2013). Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(9), 976–990. Retrieved from http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(13)00112-3/pdf

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

• Chapter 31, “Child Psychiatry” (pp. 1268–1283)

Stahl, S. M. (2014). Prescriber’s Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

In a 2 page paper, with introductory and conclusive paragraphs

• 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.
• Explain the legal and ethical issues involved with forcing children diagnosed with schizophrenia to take medication for the disorder and how a PMHNP may address those issues.  Schizophrenia Treatment in Children and Adults Essay.