Annual of social work, Vol. 19 No. 1, 2012.
Review article
THE FIRST EPISODE SCHIZOPHRENIA: THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION OF ILLNESS WHAT DO SOCIAL WORKERS NEED TO KNOW
Draženka Ostojić
orcid.org/0000-0003-1796-6867
; Clinic for Psychiatry Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Schizophrenia is mental disorder, clinical syndrome characterized by specific mental and behavioral symptoms, significant individual variations in clinical presentation, therapy response and course of disorder, with often present a significant decline in functional capacity of patients in all plans – personal, family, social and occupational.
Modern concepts of schizophrenia as neurodegenerative process, imply the necessity of development of a specific early interventions aimed at the early detection of disease and implementation of adequate and comprehensive pharmacological, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial therapeutic interventions. Because of this increasing professional interest is oriented toward the prodromal phase and first episode of schizophrenia with the focus on disease outcome (achievement of symptomatic and functional remission and a better compete recovery)
The aims of detection and diagnosis of first onset psychosis, including schizophrenia, are to reduce and/or prevent progression and/or worsening of symptom/syndrome; neurobiological changes and neuropathology; psychiatric and somatic comorbidity; deterioration of functioning and personal potentials; individual and family¨s experience of trauma; stigma; relapse of the disease; and to reduce costs to the community including inability for work.
This complex field requires continuous multidisciplinary scientific and professional approach, in which the activities of social workers has a significant role, aimed at the effective reduction of neurotoxic, psychotoxic and sociotoxic consequences of schizophrenia.
Keywords
first-episode schizophrenia; prodromal phase of schizophrenia; early interventions; social workers
Hrčak ID:
82947
URI
Publication date:
21.5.2012.
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