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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIn some cases, a health care provider, family member, friend or another acquaintance may ask about your behavior, thoughts and mood or suggest that you be evaluated by a mental health provider. Or you may decide on your own to schedule an appointment with your family doctor or mental health provider to talk about your concerns. In other cases, especially if you're in a state of agitation or behaving erratically in public, you may be taken to a hospital for an emergency psychiatric evaluation. But when possible, try to be an active and willing participant in your own care.
What you can do
Being an active participant in your care can help your efforts to manage your condition. One way to do this is by preparing for a planned medical or psychiatric appointment, if this is possible. Think about your needs and goals for treatment. Also, write down a list of questions to ask. These questions may include:
- Why do you think I have disorganized schizophrenia?
- How do you treat disorganized schizophrenia?
- How can treatment help me?
- Are there medications that might help?
- Will psychotherapy help?
- How long will treatment take?
- What can I do to help myself?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? Or can you recommend reliable Web sites to visit?
In addition to your prepared questions, don't hesitate to ask questions at any time during your appointment if you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
During your appointment, your doctor or mental health provider is likely to ask you a number of questions about your thoughts, behavior and mood. You may be asked such questions as:
- When did you first notice symptoms?
- How is your daily life affected by your symptoms?
- Do you hear or see things other people don't seem to?
- Do you have certain powers that other people don't?
- What have you tried on your own to feel better or to control your symptoms?
- What things make you feel worse?
- Have family members or friends commented on your thoughts or behavior?
- Have any relatives had a mental illness?
- What medications or over-the-counter herbs and supplements do you take?
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Disorganized type. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2008.
- Minzenberg MJ, et al. Schizophrenia. In: Hales RE, et al, eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.; 2008. www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 7, 2008.
- Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-publication.shtml. Accessed Oct. 27, 2008.
- Jibson MD, et al. Schizophrenia and related disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Schizophrenia. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2008.
- Dyer JG, et al. Update on early intervention in schizophrenia. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing. 2008;46:19.
- Turkington D, et al. Cognitive behavior therapy for schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;163:365.
- Treating schizophrenia. A quick reference guide. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Schultz SH, et al. Schizophrenia: A Review. American Family Physician. 2007;75:1821.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. Dec. 12, 2008.
- Treatment of patients with schizophrenia, 2nd ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
