Introduction and module overview
Introduction and module overview
Schizophrenia is one of the psychotic disorders in which a person suffers from significant altering of their perceptions, thoughts, mood and behaviours. While it is the most common psychotic disorder, schizophrenia is still rare compared to other mental health diseases and is associated with considerable disability that may affect educational and occupational performance.
The recurrent episodes or continuing symptoms of schizophrenia are often distressing for both patients and carers. Experiences due to unpleasant side-effects of treatment, social adversity, isolation, poverty and homelessness also play a part. There are known healthcare inequalities of access to mental health services and Covid-19 has merely increased this divide.
People with schizophrenia are two to three times more likely to die early than the general population, often due to preventable physical diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and infections. Community pharmacy has a key role in the care of schizophrenia patients and the management of their medicines.
