Care for Psychiatric Disorders
Psychiatric Patients-Members of our Society
Psychiatric disorders involve thought, emotional and behavioural disturbances. These mental health disorders are caused by complex interactions between the physical, psychological, social, cultural and hereditary influences. There have been numerous deinstitutionalization movements that have sought to bring the mentally ill patients out of institutions. This is as greater emphasis is placed in viewing them as members of families and communities, and rightly so.
Stop the Stigma, an Important Step
This article is specially chosen as it details the widespread stigma that affects those with mental illness. It has its effects. There is the employment discrimination witnessed against the people suffering from psychiatric disorders. Moreover, most people said to have a mental disorder report that they want to handle the distress themselves. This is due to ignorance of available treatment and fear of stigma and social perception. Awareness programmes and education campaigns should be carried out more to encourage people be more acceptive of their conditions and change their conceptions.
Treatment Depends on Cause
Treatment of psychiatric disorders can be carried out through different ways. It depends on the cause. Say the cause is a physical illness such as syphilis? The normal treatment of the illness will cure the mental disorder. Drugs can also be used such as sedatives, stimulants or antidepressants and tranquilizers. Expert observation is made by staff when the drugs are being used.
At a Glance..
Treatments:
- Psychotherapy
- Group Psychotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Electroconvulsive Therapy
Two or more treatments can be combined.
Electroconvulsive therapy and Psychotherapy
Electroconvulsive therapy is treatment carried out by passing an electric current through the brain, inducing a convulsion. After the treatment, the patient usually becomes brighter and more active, and the appetite and physical conditions improve. Also, they are able to form more satisfying relationships with other people.
Psychotherapy consists of methods used that don’t take in making use of physical treatment. This can be individual, where the patient is treated by the psychiatrist alone and is able to speak freely of anything that comes to mind without fear of criticism or ridicule.
Group Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy
There is also group psychotherapy through which common problems to a number of patients can be solved together. Group therapy benefits many of the mentally ill. They can lose their shyness and gain courage from listening to other people’s troubles. They then realise that other people have much the same kind of problems as they themselves, and because it’s easier to have insight into the causes of other people’s behaviour, it often helps them to see the cause of their own.
Occupational therapy can also be carried out, whereby work is the essential tool of treatment in mental illness. The occupational therapist, doctor and nurse work together to find suitable occupation for the patient as part of the treatment. Carefully planned, this job goes further to helping the patient to become part of a working group. This is per se a form of group therapy. Moreover, as they become acquainted, a leader may emerge and they begin to work as a team. After discharge, the learning of a new skill becomes useful.
After-Care
Psychiatric units in hospitals and health institutions have increased following new developments in methods of how to treat the cases. There should be procedures devised to provide follow-up mechanisms of patients after discharge to see that the patient does not relapse and that the concerned family understand the treatment required to ensure recovery. More public education should be carried out to provide more understanding and help with mental patients and consequently bring about earlier diagnosis and treatment by breaking down fear and ignorance about mental disorders.
And finally, during treatment, It requires there be provided a social situation for the patient, not too different from the outside world and where visitors can come and go freely.