Supporting Recovery in Mental Health Care Free Essay Example, 3000 words

The hypothesis of inheritance does not provide clear explanations that link it to heredity. Researchers are still undertaking studies to determine the genes that are mostly involved in the vulnerability of the disorder and whether only one gene or many genes are implicated. The biological theory is perhaps the oldest and most thoroughly looked at and researched about in the elucidation of schizophrenia. It points out a pathogenic role to anomalous brain biochemistry. For instance, the dopamine theory contends that schizophrenia may be Invoked and caused by a surfeit of dopamine-reliant neuronal activity associated with amplified release or production of the substance at nerve synapses. The medical literature also points to a myriad of physical factors that are of etiological significance. Physical factors associated with the disorder include viral infections, anatomical abnormalities, physical conditions together with histological changes (RubeÃ… ¡a et al. , 2011). Assessment of the medical history of the patient showed that he had been hospitalized at least four times. Every time, during hospitalization, the service user was manifestly psychotic, with a difficult clinical picture of overriding positive symptoms manifested. We will write a custom essay sample on Supporting Recovery in Mental Health Care or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The girlfriend claimed that Mr. Q received ambulatory treatment in between the episodes. Objective data also showed that the patient took conventional antipsychotics (haloperidol, promazine, fluphenazine, and clozapine) before his hospitalization. Q’s illness rendered him unfit to maintain a stable, professional job, and he functioned to some degree within the environment of his family. Currently, schizophrenics are subjected to antipsychotic drugs, with or without psychotherapy, as the main treatment. The treatment is also known for the development of the dopamine hypothesis. The longstanding theory evolved and was first founded on clinical observations and later empirical evidence from treatments and studies that involved antipsychotic medications. Although antipsychotic drugs have stood as the ideal treatments, and are efficient in the management of the positive symptoms, the medications have limited efficacy in treating negative symptoms. Moreover, the pharmacological therapy is based purely on symptomatology, and we normally use trial and error methods to determine the optimal dosage (Morrison, 2009). Service users who respond to antipsychotic drugs can experience side effects that can be distressing and at times intolerable. The symptoms include involuntary movements such as rigidity and tremor, drug-induced Tardive dyskinesia, Parkinson’s, hyper-salivation, metabolic syndrome, increased heart rate, and weight gain.