Module contents
About this Module
Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that can affect perception, thinking, emotional expression, motivation, behaviour, and social functioning. It is characterised by episodes of psychosis, which means difficulty distinguishing aspects of internal experience from external reality, while not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Psychosis is not unique to schizophrenia and can occur in several psychiatric, substance-related, and medical conditions.
Schizophrenia has no single cause. Current evidence supports a developmental and stress-vulnerability model in which genetic, neurobiological, psychological, social and environmental factors interact over time. Treatment should reflect this complexity. Anti-psychotic medication is central to the treatment of positive psychotic symptoms, but comprehensive care also includes psychological therapies, family support, social and occupational interventions, substance-use care, and active protection of physical health.
Although schizophrenia can be severe and enduring, many people experience substantial improvement, including sustained clinical and personal recovery. Stigma remains a significant additional burden. Good clinical care requires respect, collaboration, and attention to the person’s own goals and own understanding of their experiences.
Key Learning Points
By the end of this module, the learner should be able to:
- Recognise the principal features of schizophrenia, including positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive difficulties.
- Describe the epidemiology of schizophrenia, including its approximate prevalence and typical age of onset.
- Explain the multifactorial causes of schizophrenia using a developmental and stress-vulnerability model.
- Outline the principal treatments for schizophrenia, including anti-psychotic medication, psychological therapies, family intervention, and social support.
- Discuss the variable outcomes of schizophrenia, including clinical recovery, personal recovery, relapse prevention, and the importance of physical healthcare.
Module Steps
To earn CPD credits, follow these steps:
- Study the educational content.
- Complete the 5 MCQs that follow the case study. After each question, you will be able to see whether you answered correctly and will then read evidence-based information that supports the most appropriate answer choice. These questions are part of the educational content and are designed to challenge you. You will not be penalised for answering the questions incorrectly.
- Complete the 10 True or False questions in the Post-Module Assessment. These questions are designed to demonstrate that the module has improved your knowledge base on this topic.
- On attaining a score of 70% or more on the Post-Module Assessment, the assigned CPD credits will be logged to your personal CPD activity log. You may view or print a verification certificate when required or print off an email stating the name of the module, the author details and the CPD hours. You will not be able to alter the certificate or log. The credit that you receive is based on your user profile.
- By providing information on how the module has enhanced your knowledge and/or practice, you may qualify for additional CPD credits during a CPD review.
- NurseCPD encourages you to complete the Activity Evaluation to provide feedback to guide us in the future development of this site.
Each NurseCPD module is designed to be completed within the time designated on the Module Introduction page. This is an estimate of the maximum time required to complete the specific module and is determined by the format and content of the module. Users should claim only those credits that reflect the time actually spent on the activity.
To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online, and receive a minimum score of 70% on the post-module assessment.
