Schizophrenia is potentially devastating brain disorder that affect a person thinking,

emotions, social behavior, and ability to perceive reality accurately (Halter & Varcarolis, 2018).

The two major categories of schizophrenia symptoms are the positive symptoms and the negative

symptoms. The positive symptoms which is the presence of something that is not normally

present. They are mostly associated with acute onset this include delusion, hallucinations, bizarre

behavior, abnormal movements, and paranoia ( Lilley et al., 2017). Negative symptoms are the

absentia of something that are supposed to be present. The symptoms are slowly developed

example include blunted effect, catatonia, reduce of pleasurable feelings and difficulty in daily

activities maintenance (Halter & Varcarolis, 2018).

Patient with the positive symptoms respond well to antipsychotic medication so in a

nutshell the antipsychotic medications help in improving the positive symptoms of schizophrenia

( Lilley et al., 2017). While on the other hand, first generation antipsychotics (haloperidol) are

less effective in managing negative symptoms. However atypical antipsychotic medications

(clozapine, risperidone) have improved in treating both the positive and negative symptoms of

Schizophrenia ( Lilley et al., 2017).

The dopamine receptors and serotonin receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the

brain are blocked by antipsychotic medication by decreasing dopamine concentration in the

central nervous system. They inhibit neurotransmission in the vagus nerve in the gastrointestinal

tract. The medication also altered the effect of noradrenaline and acetylcholine in the brain by

altering the chemical effect of dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, and acetylcholine in the brain

the patient is being prevented from experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia (Kapur et al.,

2006).
 Lack of awareness of their illness is one of the reasons why schizophrenia patients are

noncompliance with their medication (Halter & Varcarolis, 2018). The adverse effect (Tardive

dyskinesia, stiffness, akathisia, constipation, weight gain, hormonal alterations leading to sexual

problems) of the medication is another reason for noncompliance for instance during long term

treatment some patients suffer depression. Misunderstand between the physicians and the

patients or lack of trust with the physician.

Proper communication by healthcare providers with the patients about adverse effect,

reason why they are taking the medication and how beneficial the medications are in treatment of

schizophrenia. Access the patient health literacy, that is the degree at which they can obtain,

process, and understand information and services related to their health care. Provide medication

schedule and the time when to take. Do not pass judgment or challenge the perspective of the

patient. Remove patient doubt by clarifying necessary directives to them and ensure proper

follow up with the patients.

References

Halter, M. J., & Varcarolis, E. M. (2018). Varcarolis' foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health

Nursing: A clinical approach. Saunders.

Kapur, S., Agid, O., Mizrahi, R., & Li, M. (2006). How antipsychotics work-from receptors to

reality. NeuroRx : The Journal of the American Society for Experimental

NeuroTherapeutics, 3(1), 10–21.

https://doi-org.databases.msutexas.edu/10.1016/j.nurx.2005.12.003

Lilley, L. L., Collins, S. R., & Snyder, J. S. (2017). Pharmacology and the nursing process.

Elsevier.