Schizophrenia: Social Treatments - Assertive Community Therapy Flashcards
What social theory explains a cause for schizophrenia?
Social Causation Hypothesis
What does the social theory say about the cause of schizophrenia?
That it is triggered by factors from the environment such as social adversity, immigration, and family relations.
Who is this therapy mostly used by?
The community and people with mental health disorders that cannot function on their own.
Describe how assertive community therapy is carried out.
- A team of staff (often psychiatrists) share a caseload of one person
- There is a high frequency of patient contact with a 10:1 staff to patient ratio
- Services are available 24 hours a day
- Individualised support focused on independence and recovery
- Offer support with daily activities
- Treatment of patient in real life setting
Give 3 examples of how ACT would help someone.
1) Banking
2) Shopping
3) Laundry
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘different treatment’ point.
P - Chemotherapy as an alternative
E - ACT involves someone helping a patient to improve their independence and functioning to reduce relapse rates long-term
E - Antipsychotics is a faster way of reducing symptoms to allow the patient to return to normal life and so they may be more committed to this method
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate an ‘expense’ point.
P - This can be expensive
E - Paying for many psychiatrists to take care of you and be available 24/7 would be expensive and need a lot of Government funding and it is also only available in urban areas with high pop density
E - Therefore it may not be available to people who need it most as can’t afford or don’t live in urban areas
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate 2 ‘supporting studies’ points.
P - Bond et al (2000) supports effectiveness of ACT
E - He concluded from 25 studies that looked into the effectiveness of ACT that it was highly effective due to engaging clients and preventing rehospitalisation
E - Therefore showing effectiveness of treatment for SZ
P - Vugt et al (2011) supports global effectiveness of ACT
E - Found in the Netherlands that provided the model was adhered to, ACT could be successful
E - Showing that the format for support in existence works effectively to improve independence and reduce relapse
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘side effects’ point.
P - There are no side effects of ACT
E - However it is often needed to be paired with medication if symptoms are bad enough and so patients will experience negative side effects from this anyway, such as muscle spasms
E - Therefore some may not seek extra therapy (that wouldn’t reduce side effects) to aid them if they are already receiving one
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate an ‘ethics’ point with a justification.
P - High social control
E - Gomory (2001) said that some patients found they were offered little choice in making their own decisions and see it as patronising
E - Therefore these ethical restraints may deter some people from using ACT to improve their symptoms
J - However it benefits people who rebel hospitalisation due to the higher control over actions there and so may find it more relaxing and free
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘mask’ point.
P - Masks the cause of SZ
E - ACT does not attempt to cure the cause of SZ instead combines it with antipsychotics to mask symptoms and improve rates of relapse gaining independency
E - Therefore this treatment is not effective due to not addressing cause for SZ
Using the acronym ‘DESSERT’, evaluate a ‘time commitment’ point.
P - There is no time limit
E - People can choose to stay in ACT as long as they want/need with support 24/7
E - Therefore this is effective as it stays with the patient long-term to help them improve their independence when living with SZ
