Question

Form a CASE STUDY on a patient that has Schizophrenia. Include the following:

1. Description of identified patient (age, gender, general appearance, presenting symptoms) –

2. Treatment: Intervention of Nurse and treatment team, including medications that would be typically used.

3. Patient care priorities and teaching points to patient and family regarding their treatment and medications (side-effects, special considerations).

4. Expected outcome (s) including hospitalization, outpatient treatment and referrals, community resources.

Answer 1

1.Schizophrenia is a mental disorder usually occurs during the age of adolescence and early adulthood.

Males prone to exhibit symptoms earlier than females at young age.

The general appearance of patient may be aloof , having poor personal hygiene, grooming and have a face of anger , anxiety, suspicion etc.

Symptoms:

Positive symptoms- delusion, hallucination

Negative symptoms- lack of motivation, absence of facial expression

Cognitive symptoms- may be of either positive or negative like poor concentration

Emotional symptoms- usually symptoms are negative like blunted emotions

Patients have negative symptoms show poor prognosis

2. treatment includes:

medication

Psychological counselling

Self-help resources

Drugs include: anti-psychosis drugs like risperidone, olanzepine,Quetiapine, ziprasidone, clozapine, Haloperidol etc

3. Teachings for patient and family members:

Drug compliance- Adherence of drug for a longer periods even if the symptom is absent is essential

Full support from family, friends and community from the initial onset of symptom.

Counselling to patient and family members how to handle the situation

Importance of family and community resources to treat the patient

4.Expected outcomes:

The symptoms may persist even for more than 6 months.

Recurrence of symptoms at any time will be there

Impairment in ability to do his /her physical activities, attending school/colleges, attending work will be there

Wandering may be possible, so community resources may help the patient.