IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS IN ST. PETERSBURG & VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA
Schizophrenia
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental health condition that deeply affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. A key characteristic is psychosis, which involves episodes where the individual experiences a break from reality.
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Without treatment, schizophrenia can be persistent and significantly impact daily life, making it challenging to maintain relationships, work, or manage everyday tasks. It's a complex, long-term medical illness requiring comprehensive and ongoing care.
Common symptoms include: Symptoms are often grouped into three main categories:
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Positive Symptoms (Psychotic Symptoms):
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Hallucinations: Hearing, seeing, or sensing things that are not there (hearing voices is most common).
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Delusions: Fixed, false beliefs that are not based in reality (e.g., persecutory, grandiose, or referential beliefs).
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Disorganized Speech: Incoherent or illogical speech, "word salad," or frequent derailment.
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Negative Symptoms (Deficit Symptoms):
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Diminished emotional expression (or "flat affect"): Reduced expression of emotions via face or voice.
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Avolition: A severe lack of motivation to complete purposeful activities.
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Alogia: Reduced speech output.
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Anhedonia: A reduced ability to experience pleasure from positive stimuli.
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Cognitive Symptoms:
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Difficulty with executive functioning (e.g., planning, decision-making).
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Problems with working memory (difficulty using information immediately after learning it).
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Difficulty with concentration or sustaining attention.
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Medication Management
Medication is the cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment.
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Antipsychotic Medications: These are the first-line treatment and are essential for managing positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions). They are generally divided into first-generation and second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics.
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Long-Acting Injectables (LAIs): LAIs are a highly effective method for administering antipsychotic medication. These injections are administered by a healthcare professional every few weeks or, in some cases, every few months. This delivery method helps ensure consistent medication levels in the body, which can significantly reduce the risk of relapse and hospitalization.
Non-Pharmacological Strategies
Psychosocial interventions are critical for improving quality of life and are used in combination with medication.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp): This is a specialized form of therapy that helps individuals develop coping strategies for persistent symptoms. It focuses on changing one's interpretation of and response to distressing experiences (like auditory hallucinations) to reduce anxiety and improve functioning.
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Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): For individuals with high needs, an ACT team (including a case manager, psychiatrist, and nurse) provides comprehensive, wrap-around support in the community to help with medication, housing, employment, and daily life.
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Psychoeducation and Family Therapy: Educating the individual and their family about the illness, its triggers, and early warning signs of relapse is critical. Family therapy can help reduce household stress and conflict, which is a protective factor against relapse.
Our Approach: Your Partner in Your Mental Wellness Journey
As a PMHNP-BC, my practice is built on a foundation of respect and collaboration.
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Shared Decision-Making: You are the expert on your own life and experiences. My role is to provide the expert knowledge on diagnoses and treatments. Together, we will review all the options—medication, therapy, lifestyle changes—and decide on a path forward that feels right for you.
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Medication as a Tool, Not a Crutch: Medication can be an incredibly effective tool to "turn down the volume" on your symptoms, allowing you to engage more fully in therapy and daily life. My goal is always to find the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary time.
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A Holistic View: My focus is not only on pills. We may also discuss sleep, nutrition, exercise, and other stress-reduction techniques. These non-pharmacological strategies can be essential for long-term, sustainable wellness.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
You don't have to manage your symptoms alone. If you're ready to explore a comprehensive, collaborative approach to mental wellness, I invite you to schedule online below.
