Experiences of schizophrenia are not  homogeneous; there is wide variety in onset, course of illness, and  combinations of symptoms. Social workers need to be able to understand  the different manifestations and pathways of the illness to plan  interventions. Social work services play a key role in stabilizing  crises, supporting family coping, and influencing overall quality of  life and outcomes of individuals with schizophrenia. In this Assignment,  you practice applying this necessary individualization. 

To prepare:  In the Learning Resources, focus on the associated features,  development, and course of the illnesses in the schizophrenia spectrum.  Also focus on descriptions of the disorder and the way it develops for  different individuals. 

Choose two articles  from the list in the Learning Resources that apply to treatment support  and interventions for the schizophrenia spectrum. Access the Walden  Library and research additional peer-reviewed articles. By Day 7

Submit a 3- to 4-page paper,  supported by at least 3–4 scholarly resources (including both required  and additional resources), in which you address the following:  Compare Saks’s and McGough’s experiences with schizophrenia,  specifically referencing the positive and negative symptoms they each  experienced.  Explain how you would use the Clinician Rated Dimensions of  Psychosis Symptom Severity measure and the WHODAS to help confirm your  diagnosis.  Identify in what ways their cases are typical or atypical of the  illness in terms of onset, associated features, development, and course.  Support your response with references to scholarly resources.  Explain how you would plan treatment and individualize it for these  two individuals. Support your response with references to scholarly  resources. In your explanation, consider the following questions:  What are the long-term challenges for someone living with the illness?  What social, family, vocational, and medical supports are needed for long-term stabilization?  How might treatment look similar or different for Saks and McGough, given they have the same diagnosis? Briefly explain how race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,  socioeconomic status, religion, or other identity characteristics may  influence an individual’s experience with schizophrenia. in the black community 

  Morrison, J. (2014). Diagnosis made easier (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Chapter 5, “Coping with Uncertainty” (pp. 43–56)
Chapter 13, “Diagnosing Psychosis” (pp. 185–215)
  American Psychiatric Association. (2013o). Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm02
 
Note: You will access this e-book chapter from the Walden Library databases.
  American Psychiatric Association. (2013b). Assessment measures. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.AssessmentMeasures
 
Note: You will access this e-book chapter from the Walden Library databases.
  Required Media

TED Conferences, LLC (Producer). (2012). A tale of mental illness—from the inside [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/elyn_saks_seeing_mental_illness
 

TEDx Talks. (2017, March 27). I am not a monster: Schizophrenia | Cecilia McGough | TEDxPSU [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/xbagFzcyNiM
 

Osmosis. (2016d, March 8). Schizophrenia: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & pathology [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/PURvJV2SMso
 

Article Choices for Assignment

Select at least 2 articles from the following list for the Assignment. Breitborde, N. J. K., Moe, A. M., Ered, A., Ellman, L. M., & Bell, E. K. (2017). Optimizing psychosocial interventions in first-episode psychosis: Current perspectives and future directions. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 10, 119–127. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S111593
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Cohen, A. N., Hamilton, A. B., Saks, E. R., Glover, D. L., Glynn, S. M., Brekke, J. S., & Marder, S. R. (2017). How occupationally high-achieving individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia manage their symptoms. Psychiatric Services, 68(4), 324–329. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201600031
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Eack, S. M., Newhill, C. E., Anderson, C. M., & Rotondi, A. J. (2007). Quality of life for persons living with schizophrenia: More than just symptoms. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 30(3), 219–222. doi:10.2975/30.3.2007.219.222
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Hernandez, M., Barrio, C., & Yamada, A.-M. (2013). Hope and burden among Latino families of adults with schizophrenia. Family Process, 52(4), 697–708. doi:10.1111/famp.12042
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Kung, W. (2016). Tangible needs and external stressors faced by Chinese American families with a member having schizophrenia. Social Work Research, 40(1), 53–63. doi:10.1093/swr/svv047
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Mauritz, M., & van Meijel, B. (2009). Loss and grief in patients with schizophrenia: On living in another world. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 23(3), 251–260. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2008.06.006
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Mueser, K. T., Penn, D. L., Addington, J., Brunette, M. F., Gingerich, S., Glynn, S. M., … Kane, J. M. (2015). The NAVIGATE program for first-episode psychosis: Rationale, overview, and description of psychosocial components. Psychiatric Services, 66(7), 680–690. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201400413
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Velthorst, E., Fett, A.-K. J., Reichenberg, A., Perlman, G., van Os, J., Bronet, E. J., & Kotov, R. (2017). The 20-year longitudinal trajectories of social functioning in individuals with psychotic disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 174(11), 1075–1085. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15111419
 
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
  Walsh, J., Hochbrueckner, R., Corcoran, J., & Spence, R. (2016). The lived experience of schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. Social Work in Mental Health, 14(6), 607–624. doi:10.1080/15332985.2015.1100153
 
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  White, C., & Unruh, A. (2013). Unheard voices: Mothers of adult children with schizophrenia speak up. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 32(3), 109–120. doi:10.7870/cjcmh-2013-025