The nurse is caring for a patient with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia. His wife asks how long it will be until her husband is cured. What response by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. "Unfortunately, there is no cure, but the condition can be managed."
b. "It will take approximately 1 to 2 months of medication therapy to alleviate your husband's symptoms."
c. "We cannot consider your husband cured until he has been symptom free for at least 1 year."
d. "There is no way to predict his outcome during his initial episode."
A
Schizophrenia can be managed with therapy and medications. It cannot be permanently cured. Evidence suggests that early treatment for schizophrenia improves long-term prognosis. Patients who are treated for first episodes generally respond to the therapeutic effects and require lower doses of antipsychotic medications. After starting a medication, the patient should be monitored for 2 to 4 weeks for therapeutic response.
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