Verified Document

Grief And Mourning In Schizophrenia Essay

Grief Schiz Precautions and Procedures for the Prevention of Suicide and the Treatment of Depression in Recently Diagnosed Schizophrenics

Any major chronic medical diagnosis can have psychological and emotional reverberations for the patient, as chronic conditions can often be perceived as a "life sentence" of sorts. The inescapability of symptoms and the long-term prognosis of many chronic disorders can cause patients to seriously question their future quality of life, the impact that their condition will have on personal relationships and other interactions with the outside world, and the purpose or meaning of continuing a life that they may perceive to consist largely of pain or other problems. In such scenarios, it is not unusual for depression and even suicidal tendencies to be observed, and for patients' problems and quality of life issues to be ultimately compounded and exacerbated as a result of this depression.

It is not only the diagnosis of chronic physical disorders that have the potential to cause these depressive reactions in patients, but diagnoses of many chronic mental disorders can have depressive impacts that are similarly profound if not even more so. Schizophrenia is one mental disorder the diagnosis of which has been empirically examined and shown to lead quite frequently to depression and suicidal thoughts in patients (Wittman & Keshava, 2007). The following pages will explore the issue of grief, depression, and suicidal tendency in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. A safety plan to mitigate the effects of these tendencies and to assist patients in overcoming them is developed as a result.

Depression and Suicide in Recently Diagnosed Schizophrenics

In a series...

Depression and even suicidal thoughts can be a part of grief and mourning -- depression almost always is, according to most models -- and it is as a result of fairly traditional grief and mourning processes that these trends and tendencies arise in recently diagnosed schizophrenics (Wittman & Keshava, 2007). According to these researchers, what is essentially grief for the loss of oneself or one's future takes hold after a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and the pattern of depression that follows is similar to what would be expected in a typical, if somewhat extreme, case of grief for the loss of a loved one (Wittman & Keshava, 2007).
This research paints a particular picture of the progression of depression and suicidal tendencies in patients recently diagnosed with schizophrenia that is quite concrete and actionable. By identifying the grieving and mourning process not only as a common but even as a necessary aspect of dealing with a schizophrenia diagnosis, the practitioner and the patient can be equipped with a set of tools, perspectives, and practices that will enable them to handle the depression in a proactive manner that does not negate the grieving process, but works through it (Wittman & Keshava, 2007). Through this, suicidal tendencies can be diminished and quality of life can be largely restored over time (Wittman & Keshava, 2007).

Safety Plan

Safety plans to assist physicians and other medical practitioners in the prevention…

Sources used in this document:
References

Beck, A. & Alford, B. (2009). Depression: Causes and Treatments. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Bhatia, S. & Bhatia, S. (2007). Childhood and adolescent depression. American Family Physician 75(1): 73-80.

Wittman, D. & Keshava, M. (2007). Grief and Mourning in Schizophrenia. Psychiatry 70(2): 154.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Children, Grief, and Attachment Theory
Words: 22384 Length: 75 Document Type: Term Paper

Figure 1 portrays three of the scenes 20/20 presented March 15, 2010. Figure 1: Heather, Rachel, and Unnamed Girl in 20/20 Program (adapted from Stossel, 2010). Statement of the Problem For any individual, the death of a family member, friend, parent or sibling may often be overwhelming. For adolescents, the death of person close to them may prove much more traumatic as it can disrupt adolescent development. Diana Mahoney (2008), with the

Sudden, Traumatic Death of a
Words: 663 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

The author notes that suicide is a major health issue in the United States, and that while 30,000 thousand successfully complete suicide every year in this country, another 650,000 people attempt it. Suicide is a serious public health issue. Because of this, the Surgeon General, David Satcher has spoken out about the importance of identifying those at risk of suicide so effective interventions can be used, emphasizing that early

Affects of Spirituality on the Mental and Physical Health of the...
Words: 2312 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Spirituality The Effects of Spirituality: The Mental and Physical Aspects of Spirituality for the Elderly The relationship of spirituality to aging is not a new idea. Society, as a whole, has been thinking about spirituality and its effects on aging since the first recording of religious history. The relationship is examined by scientists, medical doctors, spiritual healers, and individuals alike. The effects of spirituality on the elderly population have been shown to be

Palliative Care
Words: 21397 Length: 70 Document Type: Ghost Writing

Hisory of Palliatve Care Palliative Care Palliative Care Methods Palliative care entails assisting patients get through pain caused by different diseases. The patient may be ailing from any diseases, be it curable or untreatable. Even patient who are sick and almost passing away will need this care. Palliative care has characteristics that differentiate it to hospice care. The key role for palliative care is to help in improving the existence of someone and

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now