Understanding schizophrenia: a guide for newly qualified nurses

Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental illness affecting 1% of the UK's population. For those affected, interaction with a mental health educated community nurse may prove invaluable in terms of increasing the chance of an early diagnosis and preventing future relapse. NICE guidelines issued in 2002 support this theory, giving recommendations such as getting help early for those suffering and making sure that the community mental health teams work in partnership with patients and carers. The guidelines also advocate the use of atypical antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia, which are available as both oral medication and long-acting injectable preparations. The use of psychosocial interventions has developed alongside medication: discussion of symptoms with a community nurse can be beneficial in identifying early signs of relapse. This information can then be fed back to the wider community mental health team. Considering that 25-40% of long-term mentally ill people refuse specialist care, combined care between mental health specialists and community nurses ensures that individuals are seen more regularly, enhancing the quality of care that they receive. Treating this condition within the community for a group of nurses with little or no experience poses professional challenges. This article is intended to inform and explain in more detail how treatment can be delivered by a broader group of individuals.