Running Head: Schizophrenia 1, 10, Hi Laxmi My Name I

Running Head Schizophrenia1schizophrenia10hi Laxmi My Name Is Al

From what I understand you are to pick a mental disorder within a specific population and talk about treatment and the disorder itself. I think you do a great job of this! Even to me knowing next to nothing about schizophrenia as a disorder, your paper made clear sense and flowed logically.

Great job! You indicated that you wanted assistance with understanding the assignment and with editing and proofing strategies, so I hope I’m able to help you out with those things! You’ll notice a yellow highlight in a few places, and that just means you can delete whatever is highlighted. It’s usually just an unnecessary word or punctuation mark. The rest of my minor concerns at a sentence level are within the comments throughout the paper.

I did notice that your headings weren’t correct in APA format, so I commented on what needs to change for each one that was incorrect. Here is a link, too, to the Purdue OWL page on APA headings: I don’t have much else to say about your paper, I think it’s really good and you adhere to the rubric really well! I hope the comments and suggestions that I have are helpful to you. Best, Alexis

Paper For Above instruction

Schizophrenia in the Homeless Population

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, provides a comprehensive overview of mental disorders, including their diagnostic criteria, organization, definition, and classification (Marty & Segal, 2015). The latest edition, DSM-5, categorizes mental disorders into twenty-two different groups, among which is schizophrenia. This manual employs dimensional and cross-cutting assessments to assist clinicians with diagnosis and treatment planning. For instance, in schizophrenia, psychosis symptoms—such as hallucinations, delusions, distorted speech, and abnormal psychomotor behaviors—are often rated on a five-point severity scale from 0 (absent) to 4 (severe) (Marty & Segal, 2015).

Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder affecting thoughts, feelings, and actions, with etymology rooted in Greek—‘skhizo’ meaning split, and ‘phren’ meaning mind (Mohr, 2012). It is a heterogeneous disorder resulting from a mixture of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychosocial factors (Mohr, 2012). Individuals with schizophrenia often display suicidal tendencies, and the disorder has been linked to a high risk of suicide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2018), approximately twenty-one million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia.

Research indicates that schizophrenia manifests through a broad range of symptoms—persistent warning signs and increasing disability in about 20% of cases, with the remaining 35% exhibiting mixed symptoms including depression, disenchantment, and heightened suicidal risk (WHO, 2018). Historically, schizophrenia was considered one of the most severe mental disorders, affecting roughly one in one hundred adults globally before 2013 (Adeosun, 2013). Current data estimate that about 1% of the worldwide adult population is affected by schizophrenia, equaling approximately 21 million individuals (Millier et al., 2014; WHO, 2018).

This essay emphasizes the epidemiology and management of schizophrenia, particularly among marginalized populations such as the homeless, highlighting the significance of effective treatment approaches. A leading theory in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia centers on dopamine dysregulation. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor functions, has been extensively studied in relation to schizophrenia. The discovery of chlorpromazine in the 1950s marked a breakthrough in pharmacological treatment, owing to its ability to antagonize dopamine receptors (Yang & Tsai, 2017).

Further research into dopamine pathways, especially the reward pathway, suggests increased dopamine synthesis contributes to psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions (Yang & Tsai, 2017). The dopamine hypothesis posits that excessive dopamine activity, particularly at D2 receptors, underlies the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Pharmacological treatments primarily aim to reduce this overactivity, with antipsychotics—a class of dopamine antagonists—being the mainstay of therapy. The potency of these agents correlates with their affinity for dopamine D2 receptors, making receptor blockade a critical therapeutic target (Yang & Tsai, 2017).

Beyond medication, psychosocial treatments are increasingly recognized for their importance in comprehensive care. Evidence indicates that interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family education, social skills training, and case management contribute to symptom reduction and functional improvement (Chien et al., 2013). These approaches address the social and environmental factors impacting individuals with schizophrenia and are especially crucial for homeless populations, who face additional barriers to care.

The application of CBT in schizophrenia helps patients examine and modify distorted perceptions and beliefs, improving insight and coping abilities. It involves collaboration between therapist and patient, emphasizing acceptance of the patient’s subjective experiences while guiding them toward healthier interpretations (Chien et al., 2013). For homeless persons, integrating CBT with outreach programs and community services can be particularly effective in reducing internalized stigma and promoting medication adherence.

Nursing practices play an essential role in managing schizophrenia, especially in vulnerable groups. Nurses must educate patients and communities about symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal, fostering understanding and reducing stigma. Psychoeducation enhances insight and promotes adherence to treatment regimens, which is crucial in preventing relapse and reducing hospitalization rates (Al-Yahya, 2014). For homeless patients, additional efforts are needed to facilitate social reintegration, reduce depression, and create supportive environments that encourage ongoing treatment engagement.

Addressing legal and ethical issues is fundamental in schizophrenia care. Healthcare providers are ethically mandated and legally obliged to treat all patients without discrimination, ensuring equitable access to services regardless of mental health status. Ethical considerations also include minimizing harm, respecting patient autonomy, and avoiding coercive practices. Historically, stigmatization has led to neglect and inhumane treatment of individuals with mental disorders; thus, developing strategies to reduce discrimination and uphold legal rights remains crucial (Al-Yahya, 2014).

In conclusion, advances in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of schizophrenia, particularly the dopamine hypothesis, have shaped current pharmacological treatments. However, heterogeneity in symptoms and individual responses necessitate personalized, multimodal treatment strategies, integrating medication with psychosocial interventions. For homeless populations, tailored approaches addressing external social factors are vital to improve outcomes. Reducing stigma, promoting societal reintegration, and ensuring equitable access to care are essential to improving the quality of life for persons living with schizophrenia.

References

• Adeosun, I. I. (2013). Correlates of caregiver burden among family members of patients with schizophrenia in Lagos, Nigeria. Schizophrenia Research and Treatment, 2013, 1-7.
• Al-Yahya, N. M. (2014). Effects of psychoeducational intervention in improving insight and medication compliance of schizophrenic clients. World Journal of Medical Sciences, 11(3).
• Chien, W. T., Leung, S. F., Yeung, F. K., & Wong, W. K. (2013). Current approaches to treatments for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, part II: psychosocial interventions and patient-focused perspectives in psychiatric care. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9.
• Marty, M., & Segal, D. (2015). DSM-5. American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Millier, A., Schmidt, U., Angermeyer, M. C., Chauhan, D., Murthy, V., Toumi, M., & Cadi-Soussi, N. (2014). Humanistic burden in schizophrenia: a literature review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 54, 85-93.
• Mohr, W. K. (2012). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• World Health Organization. (2018). Schizophrenia. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia
• Yang, A. C., & Tsai, S. J. (2017). New targets for schizophrenia treatment beyond the dopamine hypothesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18(8), 1-14.