NURS 6700 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
Observational studies within epidemiology are used to evaluate the association between a risk factor and an outcome. Observational studies make use of careful measurement of patterns of exposure and disease in populations to draw inferences about etiology (Friss & Sellers, 2014, p.284). The two main sub types of observational studies are descriptive and analytical. Descriptive studies identify cases by person, place, and time. Analytical studies establish relationships between causative factors and incidence of disease. They consist of ecologic, case-control, and cohort studies. This discussion will be focused on the causative factor of stress or trauma related to the development of paranoid schizophrenia.NURS 6700 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
Risk Factor and Selected Health Problem
People with paranoid schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality and may see or hear things that don’t exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them or feel like they’re being constantly watched (Smith & Segal, 2018). In the many years of psychiatry in working with adults with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, I have seen the profound effect it has had on loved ones. With proper treatment, it has been heartwarming to find that when at baseline that most of these individuals are wonderful with great personalities and very pleasant to be around. It’s not known what causes schizophrenia, but researchers believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and environment contribute to the development of the disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Of the environmental factors, high levels of stress are believed to trigger schizophrenic episodes by increasing the body’s production of the hormone cortisol (Smith & Segal, 2018). To examine the association between increased stress and development of paranoid schizophrenia, a case-control study design is appropriate.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Observational Design
A case-control study is a type of analytic study “of persons with the disease (or another outcome variable) of interest and a suitable control group of persons without the disease (comparison group, reference group) (Friis & Sellers, 2014, p. 303). This type of study allows a comparison of a case of people in the hospital who have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia to people with a sample of patients in the same hospital who do not have the same disease. This type of study allows to not only compare stress and trauma but also looks at other associated risk factors that are the cause of the disease. Other advantages of case-control studies are that they are quick, inexpensive, and easy. Data collection on participants is easy by obtaining thru hospital records and participants are more willing to participate since they have efficient time. The disadvantage is that selection of controls can be difficult. Deciding diagnostic categories from which to select controls and controls not being representative of the true exposure rates in the target population are main disadvantages (Friis & Sellers, 2014, p. 309). NURS 6700 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
The outcome of Study Design
Some of the risk factors of the disease such as family history, birth complications, and history of mild-altering drug abuse during teenage or young adulthood age have already caused the illness thus cannot be treated (Mayo Clinic, 2018). However, the study design to provide a better understanding of interventions that can be initiated to help treat the disease. Such interventions include seeking social support, attending support groups, practicing relaxation techniques to relieve stress, exercising to improve focus and energy, and getting plenty of sleep since insomnia is a symptom that is commonly experienced by many suffering from paranoid schizophrenia (Smith & Segal, 2018). Other important interventions would include medication management and individual therapy for people who experienced childhood trauma.NURS 6700 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice