Schizophrenia Treatment in Florida
Same-day visits are often possible
See us in our Fort Lauderdale office or by video anywhere in Florida. We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and most major insurance plans. Se habla español.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that changes how a person thinks, feels and acts. It can make work, school and relationships hard to keep up. It’s also treatable, and with steady care many people stay in school, keep working and live on their own.
We treat schizophrenia in adults at our Fort Lauderdale office, where we also give long-acting injections, and follow-ups can often happen by video anywhere in Florida. If you’re a family member calling for someone you love, you’re in the right place too.
Signs of Schizophrenia
Symptoms usually fall into three groups.
Psychotic symptoms
- Hallucinations: hearing, seeing, smelling or feeling things that aren’t there. Hearing voices is common, and a person may hear them for a long time before anyone notices.
- Delusions: strong beliefs that aren’t true, like thinking people on TV are sending special messages, or that someone is trying to hurt you
- Disorganized thinking: jumping between topics, stopping mid-thought or speech that’s hard to follow
Negative symptoms
Losing motivation and interest, pulling away from people, showing little emotion and having very low energy. These are sometimes mistaken for depression.
Cognitive symptoms
Trouble paying attention, remembering appointments, following a conversation or making decisions.
When It Starts
Schizophrenia is usually diagnosed between ages 16 and 30, often after a first episode of psychosis. Before that, families often notice slower changes in thinking, mood and how someone gets along with others. Getting treatment soon after a first episode makes a real difference.
How We Treat Schizophrenia
It starts with a full psychiatric evaluation. Your provider asks about symptoms, history, past medications, substance use and medical health, and, with permission, talks with family.
Antipsychotic medication
Antipsychotics can make psychotic symptoms less intense and less frequent. People respond differently, so it can take more than one try to find the right one. Options include aripiprazole, quetiapine, lurasidone, cariprazine, brexpiprazole, asenapine and Cobenfy. If symptoms don’t improve on the usual medicines, clozapine may be an option. It needs regular blood tests.
Common early side effects include weight gain, dry mouth, restlessness and drowsiness. Don’t stop a medication on your own. Call us and we’ll adjust the plan safely.
Long-acting injections in our office
Some antipsychotics come as a shot given once or twice a month, so there’s no daily pill to remember. We give Invega, Abilify Maintena, Uzedy and Haldol Decanoate at our Fort Lauderdale office. Your provider will talk with you about whether an injection makes sense.
Therapy, skills and family support
Medication works best alongside other support, such as therapy, skills training and help with work or school. Family education helps relatives understand the illness and cope. We offer therapy, though openings depend on our therapists’ schedules. Our team can also point you to support groups and family programs, like those from NAMI.
Substance use
Alcohol and drug use can get in the way of treatment, so we treat both together. See our substance use treatment page.
Children and Teens
We diagnose and treat schizophrenia in adults. With children and teens, we focus on figuring out which symptoms are causing trouble and treating those, whether that’s mood swings, sleep problems, anxiety, trouble concentrating or something else.
The DSM-5, the manual clinicians use to diagnose mental illness, doesn’t set a minimum age for diagnosing schizophrenia. Still, it’s rare in younger children, and NIMH notes it’s usually diagnosed between 16 and 30. Symptoms in young people can overlap with other conditions, so a diagnosis at a young age takes careful evaluation over time, and a parent or guardian is part of every visit and decision.
How Families Can Help
- Help your loved one get treatment and keep going with it
- Remember that hallucinations and delusions feel completely real to them
- Be kind and respectful, without going along with dangerous behavior
- Look for family education programs and support groups
If an adult loved one doesn’t want care, call us anyway. We can talk through what you’re seeing and how to approach it.
How to Get Started
1. Ask for an appointment
Call (754) 270-6322 or request an appointment online. We’re open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and same-day visits are often possible.
2. We call you back
Our staff check your insurance, send your intake packet and confirm the time of your visit and whether it’s in our Fort Lauderdale office or by video.
3. Your first visit
Your provider goes over your symptoms, history, past treatment and current medications, then talks through a plan with you. Family members are welcome at the visit if the patient agrees.
Common Questions
Can schizophrenia be cured?
There’s no cure, but treatment helps many people manage symptoms and live full lives.
Do you give long-acting injections?
Yes. We give Invega, Abilify Maintena, Uzedy and Haldol Decanoate at our Fort Lauderdale office. See all long-acting injections.
Can visits be done by video?
Many follow-ups can, while you’re in Florida. Injections and some evaluations happen in the office.
Do you treat schizophrenia in children?
We diagnose and treat schizophrenia in adults. For children and teens, we focus on identifying and treating the symptoms they’re struggling with.
Does insurance cover schizophrenia treatment?
Coverage depends on your plan. We take Medicare and Medicaid, and our staff check your coverage before the visit.
Insurance and Cost
We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Optum, and we have sliding-scale rates if you’re paying yourself. We check your coverage before the visit. The price of the medication itself depends on your pharmacy and plan. More on insurance.
We see patients from age 6, and same-day visits are often possible. Several of our providers and staff speak Spanish. Request an appointment or call (754) 270-6322.
Who You’ll See
Your care is with our team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Some of them speak Spanish. You can meet our providers before you book, and our staff can help you choose someone who’s a good fit.
Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DOPsychiatrist
Dr. Murtaza Ali, DOAddiction specialist and family physician
Dr. Heather Brathwaite, PhD, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitioner
Michelle KovalPsychiatric nurse practitioner
Neal Fouke, PAPsychiatric physician assistant
Muhammad Nawaz, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitionerWe aren’t an emergency service. If you’re thinking about suicide or you’re in crisis, call or text 988. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DO, psychiatrist, on October 6, 2026.
Sources: NIMH: Schizophrenia; MedlinePlus: Schizophrenia. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Request an Appointment
Tell us how to reach you. Our team calls back the same business day, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Your appointment is confirmed once staff call you to set the time and place.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call (754) 270-6322.
Our Office
3015 N Ocean Blvd, Ste C101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Phone: (754) 270-6322. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Video visits are available anywhere in Florida. Directions and parking.