The Effect of Meditation and Relaxation on Individuals Diagnosed with Long-Term Schizophrenia

By Anthea Morne RN Ph.D LMHC CASAC

Meditation and relaxation have been in existence for a very long time. Our ancestors routinely practiced both - seeking a utopia to enhance their spirituality and be at peace with themselves and their surroundings. Today, the lifestyle of busy often leaves no time, which results in internal conflict. Internal conflict, when left unresolved, can manifest into much greater problems afflicting the mind body and spirit. When I was selected to facilitate a support group for individuals living with long term schizophrenia, meditation and relaxation proved to be effective when conducted in concert with a clinical treatment plan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973621522

Anthea Morne RN Ph.D LMHC CASAC

Anthea M. Morne RN, Ph.D., LMHC, CASAC came to America at the young age of 22. Originally from the Dominica, West Indies, she was among the youngest accepted into nursing school at the age of 17. After graduating from nursing school she worked as a registered nurse and nurse midwife in Dominica for one year and then came to America where she continued to work in the nursing field, pursued higher education and raised her family. Since early in life she has been interested in spirituality. She believes that to be healthy one has to work in healing the trio of mind, body and spirit.

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Copyright © 2018 Anthea Morne, RN, Ph.D, LMHC, CASAC.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-2153-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2154-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2152-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018902457

WestBow Press rev. date: 5/11/2018

CONTENTS

Preface: My own path to meditation and relaxation

Acknowledgments

The beginning of learning

How is schizophrenia diagnosed?

Who attended the group session?

Promotion and set up of the group setting

Evidence of the positive benefits of meditation and relaxation

Effects of meditation and relaxation interventions on individuals diagnosed with long term schizophrenia

Meditation and symptoms of schizophrenia

Advantages of using meditation and relaxation interventions

Improvement in quality of life

Instill a sense of acceptance

Disadvantages of using meditation and relaxation interventions to treat individuals diagnosed with long term schizophrenia

The methodology

Qualitative and quantitative research

Respondents of the study

Results and discussion

Conclusion

Patient Case Studies

References

PREFACE: MY OWN PATH TO MEDITATION AND RELAXATION

For five decades I served as a registered professional nurse. My professional nursing training began at an early age on the small island of Dominica, West Indies. Shortly after completing my initial nursing training I immigrated to the United States to continue my nursing career and further my nursing education.

Early on, I took advantage of opportunities to work in various healthcare fields. I studied maternity and child nursing, medical and surgical practice, pediatric care and neonatal pediatric care, geriatric care, and alcohol and other drug detoxification services. For the last thirty years of my career, my primary focus has been psychiatry. Specifically, working with individuals diagnosed with long-term schizophrenia.

In 2002, I had the opportunity to facilitate a weekly group session for individuals living with long term schizophrenia. Prior to accepting this role I reflected on my experiences and observations over the years. I thought of the effective best practices used to engage individuals living with long term schizophrenia. It was not so much based on science, but most often on demeanor. I thought of my colleagues and mentors that effectively de-escalated crisis, promoted feelings of safety amongst the patients and most importantly made the patients feel like they mattered. Their demeanors were patient focused, compassionate, intuitive and kind. Their interactions promoted a calmness that resulted in positive outcomes. I decided to mirror their practices by promoting the use of meditation and relaxation techniques in a group setting.

Evidence shows the use of meditation and relaxation techniques in a group setting can produce positive outcomes