The Role of Clinical Pharmacists as a Collaborative Team for Ambulatory Care in Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic mental illness that affects more than 21 million people worldwide of the population with significant impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from it. Because the disorder is multifaceted, treatment should address all aspects of it. Efforts to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses frequently include incorporating the skills of various health professionals into collaborative care models. In schizophrenia outpatients, clinical pharmacy plays a critical role in ambulatory care. Pharmacists increased patient interest in health counseling regarding behavior during counseling and even initiated direct patient counseling or referrals. In conclusion, the role of clinical pharmacist in schizophrenia outpatients is as follows: educate patients and their families; maintain medication compliance in patients; create a collaborative teamwork environment and keep track of drug side effects. Family support is required in Indonesia to help schizophrenic patients recover, and education about how to stop shackling for family members with schizophrenia is critical. Given the negative stigma attached to patients and the prevalent culture of shackling, the role of pharmacists in collaborative teams with other health workers is critical in Indonesia in the future.