Erin Crown, PA-C: Using Telemedicine to Help Schizophrenia Patients

With therapy sessions going virtual due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), schizophrenia patients have handled the changes very differently.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Erin C. Crown, PA-C, a physician’s assistant for Oasis Lifecare, explained how some of her patients have handled social isolation differently than others.

Because schizophrenia can manifest in different ways and not all patients have the same subset of symptoms, Crown said some patients are more adaptable to social isolation because they were already isolating themselves.

Patients who suffer from delusions or hallucinations will likely take to social isolations better because they tend to socially isolate anyway.

For others, there is more of an adjustment to the current circumstances, including patients who suffer from increased paranoia and anxiety due to concern over the pandemic and it’s causes and potential damage.

Even some of the more stable patients can have a tough time with anxiety and sleep with concern over their health and the health of their loved ones.

Along with dealing with the stress of the situation, most schizophrenia patients, at least briefly, were asked to transition from in-person therapy sessions to virtual meetings. Again, some patients have been able to transition seamlessly to virtual appointments, while others have struggled and either stopped therapy or mandated in-person care.