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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffTo improve the likelihood that your loved one's treatment plan will be effective, help him or her:
- Take medications as directed. If your loved misses or stops taking prescribed medications, schizophrenia symptoms are likely to come back.
- Pay attention to warning signs. You and your loved one's care team may have identified things that are likely to trigger disorganized schizophrenia symptoms, cause a relapse or prevent your loved one from carrying out daily activities. Make a plan so that you know what to do if symptoms return. Contact your loved one's doctor or therapist if you notice any changes in symptoms or how your loved one feels. Involve other family members or friends in watching for warning signs. Addressing schizophrenia symptoms early on can prevent the situation from worsening.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and illegal drugs can worsen schizophrenia symptoms. Make sure your loved one gets appropriate treatment for a substance abuse problem.
- Check first before other medications are started. Contact the doctor who's treating your loved one for disorganized schizophrenia before he or she starts medications prescribed by another doctor or starts any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals or supplements. These can interact with schizophrenia medications.
References
- Schizophrenia. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Skodol AE, et al. Specific personality disorders. In: Hales RE, et al. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/resourceToc.aspx?resourceID=5. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Jibson MD. Schizophrenia: Clinical presentation, epidemiology, and pathophysiology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Gejman PV, et al. The role of genetics in the etiology of schizophrenia. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2010;33:3.
- Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-publication.shtml. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Jibson MD. Schizophrenia: Diagnostic evaluation and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Families and schizophrenia: The view from advocacy. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2007;30:549.
- Rathod SR, et al. Cognitive behavioral therapy for schizophrenia. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2010;33:3.
- Staying well when you have a mental health condition. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/mental-health-month/staying-well-when-you-have-a-mental-illness. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 16, 2010.
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