Case Study

J, age 11 is hospitalized and diagnosed as having
schizophrenia. His parents are told that he should be given an

antipsychotic medication to clear up his thoughts. Having
been told that only this medication will help the parents give
consent without any additional information. J, is given
Prolixin. After being on the drug for 2 months, he starts to
develop strange movements.
Without warning his arm jerks straight up over his head, or
his foot and leg jerk from time to time, these movement are
uncontrollable. This was diagnosed as tardive dyskinesia. These
are side effects suffered by most patients who use drug for a
long time. In 1 or 2 percent of the cases, the side effects severely
incapacitate the patient. Some experts argue that there is
virtually no danger if the antipsychotics are used for only a short
time.
- is a chronic and severe mental
disorders that affects how a person thinks, feels
and behaves. People with schizophrenia may
seem like they have lost touch with reality.
Although it is not as common as other mental
disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.
– are psychiatric drugs which are available on
prescription, and are licensed to treat types of mental health
problems whose symptoms include psychotic experiences. These
include:
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective disorder
Some forms of bipolar disorder
Severe depression
 Hallucinations – hearing or seeing things that do not exist
outside of the mind
 Delusions – unusual beliefs not based on reality
 Muddled thoughts based on hallucinations or delusions
 Losing interest in everyday activities
 Not caring about your personal hygiene
 Wanting to avoid people, including friends
Schizophrenia does not cause someone to be violent and
people with schizophrenia do not have a split personality.
Schizophrenia is usually treated with a combination of medicine
and therapy tailored to each individual. In most cases, this will be
antipsychotic medicines and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
People with schizophrenia usually receive help from a community
mental health team, which offers day-to-day support and treatment.
Many people recover from schizophrenia, although they may have
periods when symptoms return (relapses). Support and treatment can
help reduce the impact the condition has on daily life.
If schizophrenia is well managed, it’s possible to reduce the
chance of severe relapses. This include:
a) recognizing the signs of an acute episode
b) Taking medicine as prescribed
c) Talking to others about the condition
There are many charities and support groups offering help and
advice on living with schizophrenia. Most people find it comforting
talking to others with a similar condition
 – is a long-acting form of flupenazine that is used to
treat certain mental/ mood problems (chronic schizophrenia).
– is a side effect of antipsychotic a medications. These

drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health
disorders. This causes stiff, jerky movements of the face and body
that you can’t control. You might blink your eyes, stick out your
tongue or wave your arms without meaning to do so.
Susie, a 14 year old girl, was riding her bike home from a friend’s
when she was hit by a truck. Taken immediately to a hospital
emergency room, she was put on life-support and treated aggressively
for a severe head trauma. The neurologists called in to assist said she
would have been killed instantly except for the helmet she was
hearing.
Three months later, Susie is in deep coma, with a minimal
response to sharp and intense pain. She still in the hospital and there
is no immediate prospect transferring her to as skilled, long term care
facility.
Her neurological prognosis is grave. She is on a ventilator
and is receiving artificial nutrition and hydration. She shows
the sign of pneumonia. Her mother has gone through a severe
psychological reaction to the accident.
After Susie is stabilized in a deep coma, her mother
wanted treatment discontinued. Now she no longer comes to
the hospital and refuses to talk with anyone about her.
Susie’s father insists on treatment, arguing that her use of
the bicycle helmet, purchased the night before the accident
was sign that she was meant to survive the accident.
The neurologists recommends not treating the
pneumonia and suggest taking her off artificial nutrition and
hydration in his judgement continued medical treatment is
futile. You are attending physician.
Lauditor and Desiree have been married for five years.
Lauditor works as a janitor at the local public school and
Desiree has a part-time job in a dress factory. They have no
family and few friends. Each is the other’s whole life.
Because Desiree is a juvenile- diabetic, they have practiced
birth control, lest a pregnancy cause serious harm.
In addition, as Desiree’s life expectancy might be
shortened, they don’t want to adopt since the child
might soon have no mother. Now they discover that
Desiree is pregnant. The physician tells them that
Desiree will almost certainly need dialysis in the
course of pregnancy. She may almost die if her
kidneys, which have already weakened, give out. The
nurse-midwife advises an abortion.
Laudator faced with the loss of Desiree, wants an
abortion. Desiree secretly want the baby so that when she is
dead Laudator will have someone to love. She thinks that the
loss of her sight would be a small price to pay for the child.

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J, age 11 is hospitalized and diagnosed as having

schizophrenia. His parents are told that he should be given an

– is a side effect of antipsychotic a medications. These

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