Introduction
Mental health conditions have become common and affect the experiences and medical outcomes of the affected patients. These disorders are known to affect a person’s behaviour, thinking pattern, and mood. Physicians should conduct proper diagnoses to provide the best treatment procedures depending on the targeted illness. This paper provides a detailed analysis and description of the most appropriate medication regimes for the following mental health diseases: depression, schizophrenia, and dementia.
Treatment for Mental Illnesses
Medical experts prescribe the best treatment plans depending on the targeted conditions. A proper diagnosis process is essential since it makes it easier for the physician to identify the disease and its possible implications. The consideration of a patient’s specific conditions and symptoms will guide the medical practitioner to make the best decision. Altamura et al. (2015) indicate that mental illnesses require proper management if the targeted individuals are to record positive health outcomes. Some of the identifiable methods for meeting the demands of patients with depression, dementia, and schizophrenia are described below.
Depression
Medications form the primary method for treating depression and ensuring that the patient records positive health outcomes. Although such drugs might not cure the targeted condition, they tend to manage the symptoms and make it possible for the individual to complete their daily chores. The available medicines are grouped into various classes that doctors can prescribe to promote the recovery process. First, antidepressants will support the management of depression by reducing sadness, increasing energy, and maximising the person’s concentration. The leading ones include Sertraline, Paroxetine, and Fluvoxamine (McLafferty et al., 2017). Second, mood stabilisers are capable of addressing the challenges associated with depression and mania episodes. Some of the common ones include Lithium, Lamictal, Divalproex sodium, and Carbamazepine (Onyike, 2016). The prescription of these drugs will make it possible for the user to lead a better life.
Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that can work efficiently in patients with depression. The health professional will design a personalised model depending on the recorded moods, feelings, behaviours, and thoughts (McLafferty et al., 2017). The ultimate aim is to guide the beneficiary to manage stress and learn how to cope. The use of brain stimulation will guide depressed people to re-pattern their experiences and eventually record positive improvements. Some of the leading ones include deep brain stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy (McLafferty et al., 2017). Medical experts should offer the relevant guidelines and information to their patients to understand some of the possible benefits and risks.
Schizophrenia
Unlike depression, schizophrenia is a complex mental condition that requires lifelong patient support and treatment. The available regimes need to be continued even after the patients’ symptoms disappear. In most the cases, medications will form the primary basis to ensure that the individuals can cope and address their negative thoughts and hallucinations. Antipsychotic drugs are preferable when focusing on this condition since they will manage symptoms successfully. They act by influencing the normal functioning of dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter (Altamura et al., 2015). The provision of a small dose will ensure that the patient does not exhibit symptoms or signs. Physicians will calculate the best quantity to deliver desirable results.
Doctors can consider the use of injections when the targeted patients are unwilling to take tablets. Second-generation antipsychotics have become preferable since they present fewer side effects. The common ones today include Asenapine, Brexpiprazole, Aripiprazole, and Iloperidone (Altamura et al., 2015). Psychologists will identify the signs of the patient to determine the most appropriate drug. The ultimate objective should be to provide the best support and care to the selected patient.
Medical experts have gone further to support the use of psychosocial therapy since it has the potential to meet the health needs of more patients. For example, vocational rehabilitation is a practice that allows most affected individuals to learn ways of completing their tasks in the workplace. Social skills training will equip more patients with the relevant competencies for interacting and communicating with others. Such gains will guide them to participate in a wide range of activities (Onyike, 2016). Individual therapy is another treatment method whereby individuals learn how to re-pattern their thought systems, cope with depression or stress, and pursue their goals in life.
Schizophrenic individuals should have access to daily support due to the signs associated with it. However, the combination of most of the identified regimes will make it possible for more people to manage the condition more efficiently. Altamura et al. (2015) indicate that electroconvulsive therapy is another useful method that can meet the health demands of patients who do not respond effectively to the available drugs. The approach will help minimise cases of depression and guide the targeted beneficiary to lead a better life.
Dementia
Dementia is another common mental illness affecting many patients in different parts of the world. Onyike (2016) reveals that some types of this disease are incurable. However, physicians will use various drugs and procedures to support most of the affected patients and ensure that they lead contented lives. Medications have the potential to manage some of the common symptoms associated with this condition. For example, cholinesterase inhibitors are capable of boosting a person’s ability to make logical judgments. Some of them include Donepezil, Galantamine, and Rivastigmine (Onyike, 2016). Unfortunately, these drugs will trigger some side effects that could lead to additional problems, such as sleep disorders, slowed heartbeat rates, and fainting. Doctors also prescribe various drugs that can treat any form of hallucination and depression associated with dementia.
Therapies have become acceptable due to their ability to support the management of dementia. Occupational therapy is essential since it allows individuals to cope and prevent falls. Experts can also consider the patient’s unique attributes to modify the surrounding environment and ensure that the individual is capable of completing various tasks (Onyike, 2016). The simplification of duties at home will allow the patient to progress smoothly, learn more about the condition, and, eventually, lead a better life. Family members or guardians need to be involved throughout the treatment program to minimise some of the dangers associated with this mental illness.
Conclusion
The above discussion has identified mental illnesses as problems affecting many people across the globe. Doctors should analyse the exhibited signs to develop the most appropriate treatment regime. Such professionals can begin by providing the relevant medications to manage some of the recorded symptoms and improve the level of progression. Since most of the diseases are incurable, therapies are appropriate to empower the patient to complete their tasks and cope effectively. These approaches will meet the medical demands of more people with schizophrenia, dementia, or depression.
References
Altamura, A. C., Fagiolini, A., Galderisi, S., Rocca, P., & Rossi, A. (2015). Integrated treatment for schizophrenia. Journal of Psychopathology, 21, 168-193. Web.
McLafferty, M., Lapsley, C. R., Ennis, E., Armour, C., Murphy, S., Bunting, B. P., Bjourson, A. J., Murray, E. K., & O’Neill, S. M. (2017). Mental health, behavioural problems and treatment seeking among students commencing university in Northern Ireland. PLoS ONE, 12(12), e0188785. Web.
Onyike, C. U. (2016). Psychiatric aspects of dementia. Continuum, 22(2), 600-614. Web.