Counseling Adolescents with Schizophrenia and Drug Abuse Term Paper by scribbler

Counseling Adolescents with Schizophrenia and Drug Abuse
A discussion on the counseling of teens with a co-morbid diagnosis of schizophrenia and drug abuse.
# 153163 | 1,273 words | 6 sources | APA | 2013 | US


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Description:

The paper provides an overview of schizophrenia and explores the connection between drug use and the expression of schizophrenia. The paper then discusses how teens suffering from schizophrenia may be more apt to fall into negative, addictive habits because of the fact that their illness frequently relegates them to the margins of society and so treating these adolescents should involve supportive group therapy as well as individualistic therapy. The paper points out that traditional counseling techniques frequently used for individuals manifesting a drug addiction are often counterproductive for persons who are mentally ill, and so a variety of approaches may be necessary before the right combination of group and individual supportive therapy is achieved.

Outline:
Introduction
Schizophrenia: An Overview
Schizophrenia and Drug Abuse
Counseling
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Schizophrenia is a mental illness in which a patient exhibits a profound disconnection from reality. Schizophrenics may hear voices that are not really present and experience hallucinations. They often exhibit distorted thinking and speech. The illness has been shown to have a genetic component: an individual with an identical twin with schizophrenia is nearly 60 percent more likely to exhibit the illness. However, the fact that the illness does not always occur in individuals with the pre-disposing genes, and this genetic tendency is not always expressed, highlights that environmental factors also influence the express of the disease. For example, stress is often said to play a role in schizophrenia, and individuals often experience their first psychotic break during a highly stressful time in their life. The mathematician John Nash began to experience schizophrenic behavior while in grad school, and transitioning from grad school to college is one of the most emotionally vulnerable times in many peoples' lives (Nasar 2001: 19). In terms of age of onset, schizophrenia usually expresses itself during the individual's teens and early twenties: men are more likely to be schizophrenic, and the illness often surfaces earlier than in males than in females."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Following up: Pot and psychosis. (2011, January 14). The Brian Lehrer Show. WNYC.Retrieved February 1, 2011 athttp://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2011/jan/14/following-pot-and-psychosis/
  • Hatfield, Agnes B. (1993). Dual diagnosis and mental illness (Schizophrenia and drug or alcoholdependence). Schizophrenia.com Retrieved February 1, 2011 athttp://www.schizophrenia.com/family/dualdiag.html
  • Nasar, Sylvia. (2001). A beautiful mind. Touchstone.
  • Schiller, Lori. (1996). The quiet room. Grand Central Publishing.
  • What is comorbidity? (2011). Comorbidity: Addiction and other mental illnesses. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Retrieved February 1, 2011 athttp://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/comorbidity/whatis.html

Cite this Term Paper:

APA Format

Counseling Adolescents with Schizophrenia and Drug Abuse (2013, May 05) Retrieved December 02, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/counseling-adolescents-with-schizophrenia-and-drug-abuse-153163/

MLA Format

"Counseling Adolescents with Schizophrenia and Drug Abuse" 05 May 2013. Web. 02 December. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/counseling-adolescents-with-schizophrenia-and-drug-abuse-153163/>

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