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King's College London

Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia

King's College London via FutureLearn

Overview

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Psychosis conditions, including schizophrenia, are treatable mental health problems that can affect anyone although very few people talk about the conditions and their impact on families. Millions of people across the globe find themselves thrust unexpectedly into a role providing support and care when a relative develops psychosis. Carers can play a major role in supporting their relative’s progress and recovery.

This four-week course will explore some of the key issues and questions relevant to a carer who is supporting a relative with psychosis such as:

  • Why is schizophrenia described as psychosis?
  • How can we best understand psychosis and its key symptoms such as hearing voices?
  • What are the links between cannabis use and developing psychosis?
  • Can psychosis affect physical health?
  • How do medications in psychosis work and what effects can they have?
  • In what ways are siblings of people with psychosis affected?
  • How can psychosis affect a carer’s health and their relationships?

This free online course will provide opportunities to share your views and experiences with carers from around the world. It will also include opportunities to consider how the recent Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic affects caregiving experiences and relationships.

You can find out more in Dr Juliana Onwumere’s post for the FutureLearn blog: “How online educational approaches can support the families of people with psychosis.”

This course is open to anyone with an interest in psychosis and caregiving issues.

You may be interested in taking the course because:

  1. you know someone with psychosis, perhaps your child, partner, sibling, parent or friend and are providing support
  2. you are a professional working in a service or other mental healthcare organisation, with an interest in psychosis and families
  3. you have an interest in mental health problems.

No previous knowledge of psychosis or experience of caring is required to take the course although some medical terminology is used. There are optional, additional materials for those who want to explore the topics discussed beyond the core material, some of which are academic papers.

The course was originally co-initiated and co-funded by H. Lundbeck A/S. H. Lundbeck A/S did not have any influence on or input into the development of course content or materials, and is no longer involved.

Syllabus

  • UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOSIS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA
    • WELCOME
    • UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOSIS
    • SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS: HALLUCINATIONS
    • SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS: DELUSIONS
    • SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS: NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS
    • FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT
    • SARS -CoV-2 (COVID-19) AND SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS
    • WEEK 1 SUMMARY
  • CAUSES, MEDICATION AND TREATMENT
    • WELCOME TO WEEK 2
    • CAUSES OF PSYCHOSIS: TRAUMA
    • CAUSES OF PSYCHOSIS: CANNABIS
    • WHAT TREATMENTS AIM TO ACHIEVE: MEDICATIONS
    • WHAT TREATMENTS AIM TO ACHIEVE: MANAGING MEDICATIONS
    • WHAT TREATMENTS AIM TO ACHIEVE: TALKING TREATMENTS
    • WEEK 2 SUMMARY
  • THE IMPACT OF CAREGIVING
    • WELCOME TO WEEK 3
    • THE IMPACT OF CAREGIVING
    • FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS
    • YOUNG PEOPLE AS CARERS
    • SIBLINGS AS CAREGIVERS
    • PARTNERS AS CARERS
    • MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CARER
    • SARS -CoV-2 (COVID-19): CAREGIVING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
    • WEEK 3 SUMMARY
  • SUPPORTING RECOVERY
    • WELCOME TO WEEK 4
    • PSYCHOSIS AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
    • THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOVERY
    • DEALING WITH PROBLEM BEHAVIOUR
    • IMPROVING COMMUNICATION
    • COMMUNICATING ABOUT HEALTH
    • WEEK 4 SUMMARY

Taught by

Dr Juliana Onwumere

Reviews

4.8 rating at FutureLearn based on 151 ratings

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