On 23 October 2019. The Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education organised an educational meeting for people with schizophrenia and their carers, attended by 40 participants (this group consisted of both patients and carers of people with the condition). The meeting was held at the J. Babiński Clinical Hospital in Kraków.
During the lecture, psychiatry specialist lek. Paweł Smyk explained that schizophrenia, like any other illness, if untreated, can lead to adverse consequences for the patient. He presented the positive (productive) and negative (disabling) symptoms of the illness and explained the difference between delusions and hallucinations. Meeting participants were introduced to the pattern of schizophrenia symptoms and their consequences. Treatment modalities (through oral medication, intramuscular administration) were also discussed and it was explained how medication treats the symptoms of schizophrenia. Finally, ways of dealing with the side effects of medication were presented, as well as information on what else is important besides drug treatment in the course of the illness (e.g. diet, alcohol abstinence, attending therapy, etc.). During the meeting, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and receive substantive answers.
The meeting was held under the patronage of the Association of Families - Mental Health from Krakow and the NeuroPozytywni Foundation from Warsaw.
Photo: IPPEZ