IRB Paper



Introduction3

Background of the Study5

Schizophrenia5

Discussion6

Symptoms8

Course of the disease9

Treatment of Schizophrenics10

Central Issues11

Care and Control12

Providing care12

Reducing control while providing care13

Expanding access to housing14

What can be done to help schizophrenic homeless persons?15

Conclusion16

IRB Paper

Introduction

A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that approximately 20% of the people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia are homeless (based on a study of diagnosed patients in the San Diego, California area). Given the 2.1 million (approximately) who are thought to have schizophrenia in the USA - this would suggest a population of 400,000 people who are homeless in the US, and suffering from schizophrenia. Homelessness remains a persistent public mental health concern. Schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorders are the main causes of the homelessness. Approximately, between one fourth and one third of total homeless persons are associated with these factors of homelessness. Risk of assault, low quality life, and death are the main consequences of homelessness. However, there is no any planned or regular treatment method to cure schizophrenia effect.

Homelessness is a social problem that has enormous public health significance. It has been estimated that about 1% of American-some 2 to 3 million people in a given year-experience an episode of homelessness that puts them in a contact with a homeless assistance provider. Schizophrenia is possibly the most complicated, grave and devastating of all mental illnesses. This can manifest itself in distinct modes and forms. People with schizophrenia may display, for demonstration, a broad blend of psychotic symptoms, disorganized demeanor, and shortfalls in motivation and emotional expression. People with schizophrenia may furthermore display a kind of cognitive disorders. All these symptoms hinder with every day functioning of the communal and expert rights. Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia often emerge and go away in time and circumstances.

Schizophrenia is a crucial disorder of brain moreover it is difficult to cure this disease (Rees, 2009). Success rate with psycho-social therapies and antipsychotic medications can be high. There are around overall 15 new medications that are provided to the patients of Schizophrenia for the treatment of their disease. Moreover, there are improving cognitive therapies and psycho-social treatments for Schizophrenia that are appearing to be successful to some extent. These treatments additionally promise to provide better life for people who are suffering from Schizophrenia in the future (NCCMH, 2010). Schizophrenia is a dreadful disorder for such people who are worried and this disease also becomes very expensive for society and families. The total cost in the United States in 2002 of Schizophrenia was determined and found to be around $62.7 billion along with the excess $22.7 billion health care cost (Hulchanski, 2009).

The disease Schizophrenia normally begins in the age of 15 to 25 years i.e. in early adulthood. Men become victim of Schizophrenia disease a little earlier than women while moist of the males suffer from Schizophrenia between the age of 16 and 25 years (Allen, n.d.). Most of the females find symptoms of the disease several years later than ...