Managing ‘Schizophrenia in the Midst of Schizophrenia’- The Role of Assertive Community Treatment

Managing ‘Schizophrenia in the Midst of Schizophrenia’
Vol. 9 No. 2 : 2014 (139-142)

Abstract
This case report emphasizes the role of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in managing a family with four members suffering from mental illness, mainly schizophrenia. We report a case of middle-aged lady who was diagnosed with treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) living with two other family members with the same illness and their carer who developed major depression from shouldering the burden of caring for mentally ill family members. ACT, through its holistic approach, proved to have reduced hospitalizations and improve symptom control and quality of life in this family.

Keywords : Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Community Mental Health team (CMHT), Family, schizophrenia,

Correspondance Address
Prof. Dr. Marhani Midin, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-91457428 Fax: +6-03-91456681 Email:marhanimidin@yahoo.com.