Low rate hospital admission for schizophrenia patients after a year in community psychiatric and rehab service

December 14, 2018

healthcaretoday, Schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, psychotic behaviours, targeted cognitive training, mental illness, mental health, paranoia,

People with schizophrenia often experience fear, confusion and paranoia.

Schizophrenia is a profoundly debilitating mental disorder that typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood. It is characterized by symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and various cognitive impairments, leading to a lifelong struggle for many individuals.

In Malaysia, there were an estimated 15,104 treated cases of schizophrenia in 2015 (source: The Economic Burden of Schizophrenia in Malaysia, 2017).

Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Dr Michael Ang Jin Kiat, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, outlines the symptoms of schizophrenia as falling into three categories: positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms.

Positive symptoms: These refer to the presence of psychotic behaviors that are not observed in healthy individuals. People experiencing positive symptoms often "lose touch" with reality, and these symptoms can vary in intensity—sometimes severe and other times barely noticeable, depending on treatment.

Hallucinations: These involve sensory perceptions without external stimuli, occurring in a clear state of consciousness. Hallucinations can feel very real to the individual, despite lacking an actual source.

Delusions: Another positive symptom involves false beliefs. For instance, a patient may believe that others are trying to harm them, or they may feel invincible, believing they possess immense wealth or have received divine instructions for specific missions. These delusions are perceived as truth by the individual, even when they are not grounded in reality.

Negative symptoms: These symptoms manifest as a lack of motivation and self-care. Individuals may isolate themselves, avoid leaving their homes, and spend excessive time in bed. Mood swings can also occur, leading to feelings of sadness, irritability, or fleeting happiness, which disrupt daily life.

Treatment options
In addition to antipsychotic medications, a study titled A Review of Schizophrenia Research in Malaysia (2014) highlights the effectiveness of hospital-based community psychiatric and rehabilitation services. The study found that 90% of patients enrolled in these services experienced a low rate of hospital admissions within a year.

Moreover, patients receiving community-based care reported significantly lower levels of depression and demonstrated higher functional capabilities compared to chronic inpatients.

However, it is still uncertain whether these community services incorporate targeted cognitive training (TCT), a promising therapeutic intervention that has gained attention recently.

TCT employs computerized training methods, such as advanced brain games, to target specific neural pathways related to memory, learning, and auditory processing. This approach aims to positively alter how individuals with schizophrenia process information, potentially enhancing their overall cognitive function.

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