On this episode of Coping After COVID, Dr. Craig Chepke discusses the challenges for schizophrenia patients.
0:22 Introduction
2:51 Short-Term Impacts of COVID-19
3:53 Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19
6:56 The Future of Telehealth
9:31 Limiting the Damage
11:43 Mistakes in Hindsight
15:49 Impulsive Behaviors
17:49 Younger Vs. Older Patients
20:09 Biggest Issues for Schizophrenia
22:11 Best Advice for Doctors and Patients
Schizophrenia can be difficult to treat, even in ideal settings.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic began to take shape, it became even tougher for this patient population.
Like most other psychiatric conditions, schizophrenia can be made worse by the added stress that comes along with a global pandemic.
And the disruption of a regular schedule with regular psychiatric health care appointments and treatment plans can be damaging.
In this month’s episode of Coping After COVID: Navigating Psychiatry After a Pandemic, Craig Chepke, MD, FAPA, Excel Psychiatric Associates, spoke about how difficult a time it could have been for schizophrenia patients.
Chepke said 1 of the more troubling aspects of the pandemic was that many patients neglected care. He said there has been a push over the course of the pandemic to address some of the mental health issues that are common under the circumstances, but he is worried that schizophrenia patients might specifically be falling through the cracks.
And outside of treatment and therapies, there are several initiatives that generally help schizophrenia patients, including socializing and job seeking. But that was also made difficult and unsafe during the course of the pandemic.
