(DOWNLOAD) "First-Episode Psychosis: An Update (Report)" by South African Journal of Psychiatry * Book PDF Kindle ePub Free

eBook details

Title: First-Episode Psychosis: An Update (Report)
Author : South African Journal of Psychiatry
Release Date : January 01, 2008
Genre: Health & Fitness,Books,Health, Mind & Body,
Pages : * pages
Size : 208 KB

Description

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness for the majority of its sufferers. Despite many years of research, it remains one of the most burdensome and costly illnesses worldwide. (1) In addition to direct treatment costs, patients' families have to deal with many further burdens. During the last two decades, interest in first-episode psychosis has increased dramatically. Studying this population has not only allowed researchers to study the illness relatively free of confounders, (2) but has also renewed hope that the outcome of the illness can be positively influenced by early intervention. (3) The clinical picture of schizophrenia is complex; factor analysis has shown it to comprise various symptom complexes or domains, each of which is clinically relevant and may require different treatment strategies. These domains include positive symptoms, negative symptoms, mood symptoms and cognitive symptoms, and it is postulated that there are specific pathophysiological processes underlying each domain. (4) These processes may be present to a greater or lesser degree from the first episode.