BNI Treatment Centers, a local teenage behavioral and mental health clinic, recently posted an educational piece detailing the complexities of teenage schizophrenia. This extensive post combines industry-leading research with hands-on expertise to create a compelling portrait of this harrowing condition.
Pulling research from more than 20 different sources in addition to staff interviews, this piece provides a comprehensive overview of adolescent schizophrenia, touching on its consequences, the aspects unique to teenagers, and the most effective treatment methods.
It begins by highlighting the unique challenges when diagnosing teens and adolescents.
“One of the major challenges facing diagnosis is that all of the criteria are based on adult diagnostic studies,” says Dr. Arastou Aminzadeh, adjunct faculty at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine and chief medical officer at BNI. “We have to extrapolate from that. At the same time, when it comes to psychosis in teens, it’s way more common. Some [symptoms of psychosis] may even be developmentally appropriate.”
The article points to an imaginary friend as an example of one such “developmentally appropriate” symptom of psychosis, where it’s perfectly normal for younger children to have overactive imaginations. Indeed, the authors highlight that approximately 8% of teens exhibit psychotic symptoms, without any underlying psychiatric disorders.
They then address the costs of schizophrenia – as well as the hope of recovery.
“Schizophrenia’s many complex, chronic, and chaotic symptoms lead to complications in day-to-day functioning. For many patients and their families, this is a disabling and disruptive disorder, and prognoses seem pessimistic at best,” the authors explain, “However, despite its reputation as a lifelong illness, many patients find that treatment makes a significant impact – a recent meta-study suggests that a majority of individuals can see moderate improvement, with nearly one in four able to achieve complete recovery.”
The importance of multidisciplinary treatment can’t be overstated, the authors argue. Indeed, the post highlights how cultural differences in treatment can lead to almost double the rate of recovery. Nearly 64% of Europeans experience recovery compared to only 36% of North Americans. The primary reason being the comprehensive and community-based approach to support and treatment in European nations.
While the authors underscore the value of this holistic approach, the post clarifies that effective treatment begins with antipsychotics. These medications can treat the symptoms of schizophrenia, enabling other forms of therapy.
“Hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking can be significantly reduced through effective antipsychotic interventions,” the piece argues, pointing out that there are some antipsychotics that can “Not only treat a wide array of psychotic symptoms, but also have positive impacts on things like mood, suicidality, and depression.”
The educational piece concludes by once again echoing the importance of a holistic and comprehensive treatment plan. While it touches on other medicinal approaches, such as mood stabilizers and antidepressants, it also addresses the most impactful forms of therapy. Cognitive-behavioral and dialectical-behavioral therapies are most impactful, especially when combined with skills training and family interventions.
However, despite the optimism surrounding these effective treatments, the post ends on a somewhat chilling note.
“If an adolescent is diagnosed with schizophrenia, parents need to be involved immediately,” Dr. Aminzadeh says. “After that initial crisis phase is over, we like to sit the parents down and plan for at least 5-10 years out.”
He pauses before continuing. “We often recommend they consider conservatorship, so they have control and can ensure their kid receives the help they need down the road. It’s a hard conversation, but it always improves outcomes. That component of education, especially for families, is crucial.”
BNI Treatment Centers was founded as the Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, an initiative designed for treating teenage mental and behavioral health. Their industry-leading specialists bring a science-based and evidence-backed approach to the community, with an emphasis on education and training. For more information about BNI Treatment Centers, visit their website today.
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For more information about BNI Treatment Centers - Stokes, contact the company here:
BNI Treatment Centers - Stokes
Doug Jewell
424-365-1032
doug@bnitreatment.com
2563 Stokes Canyon Rd
Calabasas
CA
91302
