Managing Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is the purpose of token economies?
they help to regulate and manage behaviour of schizophrenics by rewarding good/desirable actions that they do.
it does not cure the disorder, but rehabilitates the patient
What did Ayllon and Azrin do?
- created a token economy system in a ward of schizo women
- plastic token for carrying out a task
- then swapped for privileges like watching a film
- found that the number of tasks carried out increased
What three categories did Matson et al identify (PCS) that token economies help with?
What is the problem with institutionalisation?
- personal care
- condition-related behaviour
- social behaviour
Bad habits can be developed such as poor hygiene and not socialising
How do token economies work?
What is this known as, hint BM
- token given immediately after a desirable behaviour is done
- later swapped for tangible rewards, e.g. sweets, walk
BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
What is behaviour modification based on
Name the three types of reinforcers with examples
operant conditioning
Tokens = secondary reinforcers
only work when the patient knows they can be exchanged for Reward = primary reinforcers
exchangable tokens are therefore Generalised Reinforcers
Evaluate token economies (Glowacki, ethics, home, alternatives)
- glowacki found multiple studies that showed that negative symptoms/unwanted behaviours reduced … but only a small number of studies
- ethics, because behaviour is being controlled, also possible discrimination against patients who are more severely ill and therefore unable to do certain things
- the effects may not be maintained when the patient is at home and the token economy setup is no longer there
- other alternatives exist, eg NICE recommends art therapy, low cost high gain
