Psychological rehabilitation of patients with endogenous disease

Abstract

Background: Clinical picture of the mental illness „schizophrenia” includes numerous symptoms, described in detail in the literature on this subject. Diagnosis of the illness involves detection of the present signs and symptoms, which are closely connected with the impaired social and occupational functioning. Schizophrenia presents itself in a form of psychotic disorder. The term „psychotic” refers to a significant breach in the assessment of reality, or in psychodynamic terms, is defined as a loss of communication between the Ego and the reality, as well as a degree of functional impairment. The article provides the substantiation of early psychotherapeutic intervention in combination with psycho-pharmacotherapy in patients with endogenous disorders. It also describes the mechanisms of psychological defences to deal with traumatic experience, used by personalities functioning on a psychotic level. Characteristic behaviour patterns of extended family members in terms of emotional co-dependency are provided. Conclusions: Individual pathopsychology is considered as a symptom of abnormal functioning of the family. The article places emphasis on the importance of inclusion of family members in psychotherapeutic interaction in order to correct interpersonal relations. Psychosocial rehabilitation of patients with endogenous disorders should be implemented in two stages: inpatient and outpatient.