Catatonic Schizophrenia: Recovery Period, Prognosis, Disability Benefits, Coping Tips

Catatonic schizophrenia is a schizophrenia sub type where people reveal extreme behaviors. Catatonic schizophrenia refers to people who may be mute and sedated, or who may be highly active, literally out of control.

People affected with catatonic schizophrenia reveal the above characteristics prominently than other schizophrenia symptoms. Symptoms of schizophrenia in this type may last sometimes for few minutes or may go on for several weeks, based on whether a person is undergoing treatment or not and how one responds to the treatment.

In this article you will read about the recovery period for catatonic schizophrenia, Prognosis, Social Security Disability benefits for catatonic schizophrenia, prevention, coping, complications and lifestyle changes for catatonic schizophrenia.

Recovery Period for Catatonic Schizophrenia

Recovery Period for Catatonic Schizophrenia

Catatonic schizophrenia is not curable. Doctors can give treatment only to prevent the outbreaks of catatonic schizophrenia episodes and reduce the symptoms. However, people affected with catatonic schizophrenia must be treated for the entire life.

Recovery from catatonic schizophrenia is a process that is long lasting. However, it does not indicate that you need not have to confront anymore the catatonic schizophrenia sickness and you will be experiencing no symptoms. However, it is mandatory to work towards your goal, acquire knowledge about catatonic schizophrenia and to control symptoms, create a satisfying and purpose-driven life for you and develop to take the assistance you require from your associates. Always bear in mind; you are not the sole person in the world suffering with catatonic schizophrenia.

Beneficial catatonic schizophrenia treatments reduce existing symptoms, avert future occurrences, and restore your ability to enjoy your life. A schedule for treatment is a must so that it combines medication in association with supportive services, besides the therapy that offers an effective approach in managing catatonic schizophrenia.

Prognosis for Catatonic Schizophrenia

Looking at the prognosis/outlook of catatonic schizophrenia reveals that the exiting misunderstanding in individuals about catatonic schizophrenia that there are no possibilities of enhancement or recapture is not absolute, actually there is more to be optimistic. You may consider catatonic schizophrenia to be same as diabetes that also needs constant medication. There is no permanent treatment for catatonic schizophrenia right now and so the symptoms can be brought into control with medications, besides supportive therapies.

Social Security Disability Benefits for Catatonic Schizophrenia

There are disability benefits for catatonic schizophrenia sufferers. For identifying the medical conditions, social security has given impairment listings so that it helps in qualifying the disability. To enjoy the benefits, individuals with catatonic schizophrenic disorder, must be suffering from:

  • Delusions or Hallucinations.
  • Being disorganized or Catatonic behavior.
  • Incoherent or illogical speech.
  • Lack of interaction or social withdrawal.

Apart from these, the individual should have medical records of the daily activity limitations and the catatonic schizophrenia disorder symptoms.

  • Difficulty concentrating on a task.
  • Difficulties with social functioning.
  • Having worsening symptoms in lengthy episodes.
  • Problems engaging in daily activities.

Prevention of Catatonic Schizophrenia

There is no surefire way to completely prevent catatonic schizophrenia. Evidence shows that the catatonic schizophrenia signs may be seen from early childhood or from the stages of infancy. Early identification helps in giving quick treatment for catatonic schizophrenia. This helps to keep the symptoms under control before developing any serious complications and this may help in improving the long-term outlook. Adhering with your treatment plan for catatonic schizophrenia helps in preventing relapses or catatonic schizophrenia symptoms from worsening.

Coping Tips for Catatonic Schizophrenia

Coping with catatonic schizophrenia can be challenging. Medications may have unwanted side effects, and this may result in you feeling resentful or angry or may require a lifelong treatment. During the time you feel better, you can be mostly tempted to stop the treatment, but this may trigger a relapse. Here are few ways of coping with catatonic schizophrenia:

  • Knowledge of power. Acquire knowledge about catatonic schizophrenia to properly cope with it. Learning about your health or disease condition is certain to empower you and encourage you to follow your treatment plan.
  • Join a support group to better cope with catatonic schizophrenia. Support groups helps in reaching others who are also equally facing such challenges and this offers a great moral support.
  • Concentrate on your goals as recovery from catatonic schizophrenia is a continuous process. You must stay motivated keeping in mind the revival goals. Remind yourself that you have to manage your illness and concentrate on your goals.
  • Identify healthy outlets to properly cope with catatonic schizophrenia. Search for healthy ways to say energetic, include your hobbies, recreational activities and exercise.
  • Learning stress management and relaxation is the most important coping mechanism for catatonic schizophrenia. Try techniques of stress-reduction such as meditation or yoga.
  • Plan your time to effectively cope with catatonic schizophrenia. Plan your daily activities and stay organized. This may be helpful if you plan your time and prepare a list of daily tasks.

The best thing to do on a daily basis is to cope with your catatonic schizophrenia and this is possible by sticking to the treatment plan charted by your doctor or healthcare provider. If you have the schizophrenia other types, your doctor will not recommend antipsychotic medications as these may worsen the catatonic symptoms. Instead, your doctor may prescribe sedating medicines such as benzodiazepines to offer relief from the catatonic state.

Apart from the benzodiazepines for catatonic schizophrenia, you may be recommended by your doctor to undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This is one of the main ways of managing catatonic symptoms. It is about giving electrical currents such that they are passed through the brain. Such currents result in causing a small seizure in the brain; this may alter the chemical balance within the brain and assist the symptoms of catatonic.

Adding to this medicine and ECT, you may be suggested vocational training, counseling or many other ways to provide relief from your catatonic schizophrenia. If you show consistency in following the treatment plan, even if you are well and need no treatment, you have all the possibilities of diminishing the symptoms to a great extent. This also is helpful when your family members or friends support you at your needy times.

Lifestyle Changes for Catatonic Schizophrenia

Catatonic-type schizophrenia refers to extremes in behavior and movement ranging from hyperactive agitation to immobility and complete lethargy. Catatonic schizophrenia does not refer to any illness that can be cured on your own. But you can make certain changes in lifestyle in order for better management of catatonic schizophrenia:

  • Observing the warning signs is a good lifestyle change for managing catatonic schizophrenia. There may be signs triggering your catatonic schizophrenia symptoms and this would have been identified by your caregivers and you. This may prevent you or cause a relapse from doing your daily activities. So, plan accordingly so that in case the symptoms return, you must know to handle it immediately. Contact your therapist or doctor in case you observe changes in the symptoms or the way you feel. Get involved with friends or family members in noticing the signs of warning. The symptoms of schizophrenia must be addressed early to stop the situation from becoming worse.
  • Avoiding alcohol and drugs is the best lifestyle change for managing catatonic schizophrenia. Illicit drugs and alcohol may worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia. Consider appropriate treatment for such abuse problem.
  • Taking medicines as directed is a good way to manage catatonic schizophrenia. Never skip the medications, even if you are really feeling healthy and normal. This is because stopping medications has chances of catatonic schizophrenia symptoms to come back.
  • Checking before taking any other medications is a good lifestyle change for managing catatonic schizophrenia. Consult your doctor treating you for catatonic schizophrenia before, if any other doctor has prescribed medications or even prior to taking any medications over-the-counter, minerals, vitamins or supplements. These interact with catatonic schizophrenia medications.
  • Never skip the medications.

Complications in Catatonic Schizophrenia

Unattended catatonic schizophrenia is likely to develop into severe and serious problems of health, behavioral, financial and legal nature. The problems affect each part of the patient’s life. The complications of catatonic schizophrenia can include:

  • Suicidal thoughts, depression, suicidal behavior is a major complication involved with catatonic schizophrenia. Patients affected with catatonic schizophrenia undergo depression in periods. The symptoms must never be ignored as this may worsen to the extent of having suicidal thoughts, if they are left uncured. The NHS, National Health Service, UK says ‘Research found 30% people affected with catatonic schizophrenia and they surely attempt at least once to commit suicide and also 1 in 10 people commit suicide’.
  • A simple complication of catatonic schizophrenia is hygiene problems.
  • Another complication of catatonic schizophrenia is malnutrition.
  • Inability to attend school or educational institutions.
  • Smoking related diseases is a complication of catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Substance abuse that includes illegal drugs, alcohol and prescription medications
  • In capable of maintaining or finding an employment, thus resulting in homelessness and poverty is another major complication of catatonic schizophrenia. Such patients are hesitant to enter the job market due to fears of inability to handle the responsibilities. In fact, individuals pursuing work lead a better life quality, say the experts in comparison to people who do not work. So it is highly recommended the patient must work.
  • Other possible complications of catatonic schizophrenia are going to prison, serious conflicts in the family, being a crime perpetrator or being a victim of some crime.

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:January 21, 2019

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