Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract
Schizophrenia is approached different between the United States and China. These two
countries being the top industrial powerhouses of the world make it imperative to
compare social influences in the varied health care systems. Information reviewed from
various specialty journals revealed cultural influences on the treatments, professional
training, and criteria in order to discharge patients, and the overall approach, as well as
the outlook of the mentally ill. Larger implications of the findings include that China and
the United States having access to similar resources still, approach mental illnesses in
different ways as a result of religious and societal outlooks.
is reason for optimism in the public's recognition of mental illness and causal attributions,
a strong stereotype of dangerousness and desire for social distance persist (p.5). In other
words, Link believes that because of the freedom to religion in the United States the
perspective changes to fit each religion. Some believe that mental illness should be kept
hidden from the public. Others may think its due to the biological effect from ones
genes. Overall, Americans address the situation of mentally ill people but do not think the
highest of those individuals.
Treatment Approaches
Traditionally, the family of the patient takes on the responsibility for the recovery
of a schizophrenia patient in China. In the event of possessing a mentally ill family
member, that family has authority to decide when and where to seek medical help for the
mental illness. More importantly, there is absolutely no formal commitment to seek help
if diagnosed as mentally ill. Michael Phillips (2001) writes, There are no psychiatric
wards in general hospitals and general physicians do not provide basic mental health
services, and so almost all formal treatment services provided for schizophrenic patients
are provided from specialized psychiatric hospitals, most of which are situated in large
urban centers (p.2). Basically, Phillips is saying that a mass majority of the mentally ill
population does not have access to mental services. When they do get access to services,
Chinese families often hope that one round of hospitalization will cure the patient. Also,
knowing that schizophrenia is chronic, Chinese proceed to result in using antipsychotics
or herbal medicine. Above all, herbal medicine has been used as Chinese treatments for
thousands of years. Prescribing different types of formulations of this medicine depends
on the diagnose syndrome of schizophrenia. According to John Rathbone (2008), In
these trials results tended to favor combination treatment compared with antipsychotic
alone (p.3). In making this comment Rathbone urges to his audience that combining the
Chinese herbal medicine with antipsychotics is more beneficial for patients with
schizophrenia rather than antipsychotics alone. As a final point of Chinese Schizophrenic
Treatments, mostly depending on medication, the social aspects make it difficult to
generalize treatments resulting in difficult accessibility.
Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, the United Sates uses treatments that
allow their patients to live a productive and satisfying life. For a Schizophrenic patient to
recover they can choose from medications, rehabilitation programs, or both. According
to Matone, Although youth with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism
proportionally were more likely to receive antipsychotics, youth with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and those with three or more mental health diagnoses
were the largest consumers of antipsychotics over time; by 2007, youth with ADHD
accounted for 50 percent of total antipsychotic use(October 2012). The essence of
Matones argument is that the most commonly used treatment is antipsychotics. The
usage of medication to treat schizophrenia has not only increased among the adult
population but also the pediatric as well. Matone proceeds to point out that the
medication for mental illness has evolved into second-generation antipsychotics that have
fewer side effects and treat an increased amount of symptoms. Americans possessing
schizophrenia will most likely be on medication and also endure therapy programs that
will aid better understanding and knowledge of schizophrenia resulting in allowance for
one to work on skills in order to live a normal life. The American treatment for
Schizophrenia is simple; its just a matter of finding the best fit for the patient.
mental health care professionals who also value much more than just the chemistry. In
comparison to the shortage of not fully skilled health care professionals among the
Chinese.
Discharging Patients
Discharge planning is an important part of the psychiatric field in order to prevent
the relapse. Michael Phillips (2001) states, Traditionally, family members in China
assume responsibility for ale the health care decisions of a seriously ill individual (p.10).
Phillips point is that there is no particular plan in China of discharge because it will
always be up to the family if and when the patient can be discharged. In comparison, the
United States once again has strict criteria to follow and meet in order to be released.
Writing in the journal Psychiatric Discharge Process, Hamzah Alghzawi (2012) explains
that, Discharge planning should be a collaborative process between hospital staff, the
patient, the family, and the community aftercare agencies so that vital linkages are
affected before discharge (p.1). In other words, Alghzawis point is that discharging is a
decision made by many in order for the best results after discharge. To conclude, China
depends on solely family members opinion whereas the United States puts each persons
knowledge together in order to come to a conclusion.
The U.S. and China have two distinct ways of approaching the mentally ill. On
account of diverse religion, the views differ in the way people see causes, how
schizophrenia should be treated, professional training programs, and discharging a
patient. Having access to relatively the same resources, one would think that mental
health care would be mostly similar. The analyzed information is important by the reason
of bettering our healthcare by comparing systems. This research could positively impact
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References
Algzhawi, H. (2012, May 1). Psychiatric discharge process. Faculty of Nursing, The
Albayt University
Kolstad, A., & Gjesvik, N. (2013). Perceptions of minor mental health problems in China.
Mental Health, Religion & Culture
Kukshal, P., Thelma, B. K., Nimgaonkar, V. L., & Deshpande, S. N. (2012). Genetics of
schizophrenia from a clinicial perspective. International Review Of Psychiatry,
24(5),
Link, B., Phelan, J., Bresnahan, M., Stueve, A., & Pescosolido, B. (1999). Public
conceptions of mental illness: labels, causes, dangerousness, and social distance.
American Journal of Public Health, 393-404.
Volume, page
11
Liu, J., & Ma, H. (2011, October). Mental health system in China: history, recent service
reform and future challenges. World Psychiatry, p. A3.
Matone, M., Localio, R., Huang, Y., DosReis, S., Feudtner, C., & Rubin, D. (2012). The
Relationship between Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment with SecondGeneration Antipsychotics over Time: A National Study of U.S. MedicaidEnrolled Children. Health Services Research
Rathbone, J., Zhang, L., Zhang, M., Xia, J., Liu, X., & Adams, C. (2001). Chinese herbal
medicine for schizophrenia: Cochrane systematic review of randomised trials.
The British Journal of Psychiatry,