04 Jan Early Onset Schizophrenia Children and adolescents with schizophrenia

Assignment 1: Early Onset Schizophrenia

Children and adolescents with schizophrenia have more difficulty functioning in academic or work settings, and significant impairment usually persists into adulthood. They may have speech or language disorders and in some cases borderline intellectual functioning. These individuals are more likely to complete suicide attempts or die from other accidental causes. Schizophrenia is characterized by positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and behavior disturbance. Negative symptoms include blunted affect and attention, apathy, and lack of motivation and social interest.

In this Assignment, you compare treatment plans for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia with treatment plans for children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia. You also consider the legal and ethical issues involved in medicating children diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Compare evidence-based treatment plans for adults versus children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia

· Analyze legal and ethical issues surrounding the forceful administration of medication to children diagnosed with schizophrenia

· Analyze the role of the PMHNP in addressing issues related to the forceful administration of medication to children diagnosed with schizophrenia

To Prepare for this Assignment:

· Review the Learning Resources concerning early-onset schizophrenia.

The Assignment (2 pages):

· Compare at least two evidence-based treatment plans for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia with evidence-based treatment plans for children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia.

· Explain the legal and ethical issues involved with forcing children diagnosed with schizophrenia to take medication for the disorder and how a PMHNP may address those issues.  

Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements. All papers submitted must use this formatting.

 see class rules

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1 Early Onset Schizophrenia

Early-onset schizophrenia refers to a severe as well as a debilitating disease that is related to substantial long-term impairments in a wide range of factors such as social, educational, psychological, reduced life expectancy, poor physical health among others. 2 The main objective of this paper is based on comparing treatment plans for adults suffering from schizophrenia with treatment plans for adolescents as well as children suffering from schizophrenia.  In addition, the paper discusses different legal and ethical issues that are involved in treating children suffering from schizophrenia.

3 Comparison of two evidence-based treatment plans for adults, children and adolescents with schizophrenia.

The main objectives when treating schizophrenia include preventing relapse, enhancing adaptive functioning as well as targeting symptoms of the illness to ensure that integration of patients back into society. 4 According to Baker et al.  (2016), the mainstay in managing schizophrenia is pharmacotherapy, though residual symptoms are likely to persist. In such a case, non-pharmacological medications such as psychotherapy may be considered vital. 5 Some of the evidence-based treatments for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the application of second-generation antipsychotics.  On the other hand, children and adolescent’s treatment would include second-generation antipsychotics as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy both adapted for psychosis.  6 According to Harvey et al.  (2016), non-pharmacological as well as pharmacological treatments can be used towards optimizing long-term outcomes.

Second-generation antipsychotics are considered the choice agents as well as first stage treatment for the schizophrenia illness in both adults as well as adolescents. Other approved treatments by the FDA include aripiprazole, olanzapine, risperidone as well as quetiapine. McDougall & Sanderson (2016), the main benefit of using second-generation antipsychotics in treating schizophrenia is that such drugs are related to fewer extrapyramidal symptoms. Nevertheless, such medications are well-known to cause hyperlipidemia, as well as weight gain, hence increasing the risk of heart diseases for the patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. In adults, CBT is considered effective as a standalone treatment for schizophrenia. On the other hand, in children as well as adolescents, CBT mainly adapted for psychosis is considered to be effective in helping children to respond to decisions in a less impairing manner.

Legal and Ethical issues Depending on the developmental stage of the child, they need an explanation about their condition and have choices on possible treatments. Nevertheless, legally, due to age, parents are instrumental in deciding the treatment for their children. In most cases, parents are obliged to give consent to treatment for their children. Due to such factors, it is important that a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner establish clear communication with the parents towards understanding the benefits as well as risks associated with prescribed medication therapy. On the other hand, ethically, safety is a possible pharmacotherapy risk, which should be weighed against the possible risks associated with untreated psychopathology. Therefore, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner should weigh both the pros and cons of treatment and also have an understanding of both legal and ethical principles, which guide the care provisions towards minors.

Summary Early-onset schizophrenia refers to a severe as well as a debilitating disease that is related to substantial long-term impairments in a wide range of factors such as social, educational, psychological, reduced life expectancy, poor physical health among others (Harvey et al., 2016). 5 Some of the evidence-based treatments for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the application of second-generation antipsychotics.  A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner should weigh both the pros and cons of treatment and also have an understanding of both legal and ethical principles, which guide the care provisions towards minors. Depending on the developmental stage of the child, they need explanation about their condition and have choices on possible treatments.