What You Should Know About Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia (TRS)

What is it?

TRS is the presence of persistent and severe psychotic symptoms and reduced functioning despite treatment with 2> types of antipsychotic medications.

How prevalent is it?

Approx. 30% of those with Schizophrenia will have TRS.

What is it like to live with TRS?

 -Cognitive impairment especially in the areas of verbal learning, memory, executive functions, and processing speed which affect functioning and responses to care.

 -Greater severity of symptoms; delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking, loss of motivation, flat affect, speech disturbance, and social withdrawal.

 -Co-occurrence of other psychiatric conditions such as generalised anxiety, OCD, substance abuse, and major depression.

 -Severe reduction in everyday functioning and greater direct care needs.

What does carer support involve?

-Consistent and direct support for activities of daily living

-Implementing compensatory cognitive skills and emotion regulation skills

-Risk monitoring and early action to mitigate risk

-Advocacy and social communication support  

-Safe and affordable housing needs

-Specialist support coordination