Mental Health And Illness
Question
2. Identify the signs and symptoms of your patients diagnosed mental illness.
3. Highlight your patients legal status and explain what it means to your patient and the care you provide. Outline any relevant issues.
4. Discuss the medication prescribed to your patient. Discuss use, dosage and possible side affects.
6. Discuss your patients risk assessment. Identify any issues.
7. Consider any potential stigma and discrimination that may impact on your patient’s recovery process
8. Report on your patients social welfare. Outline any potential issues.
9. Discuss the support you could provide to your patients family, and or carer.
Answer
Signs And Symptoms Of The Patient’s Diagnosed Illness
Researcher Dennis Thompson describes Schizophrenia as “a chronic but treatable disease.” Writing in the Web Med Journal, Thompson says that Schizophrenia often manifests in ‘delusions of grandeur.’ In this context, a patient has false beliefs about his personal importance. He might, for instance, believe that he’s ‘a famous political leader’ and no amount of reasoning on the absurdity would convince him otherwise (Lieberman, & Murray, 2012). Quoting the US National Institute of Mental Heath, the writer added that other patients suffer delusions of persecution.
Carolyne Smith exhibited some of these signs of psychotic illness (Killackey, 2014). She was paranoid and restless and was aggressive towards others. The medical personnel suffered the brunt; she seldom cooperated or followed instructions. She was notably irritable and disorganised in thought and actions (Killackey, 2014). Her bed remained unmade, and her personal effects were scattered. The patient showed signs of delusion; she repeatedly shouted and claimed that ‘the water on the ceiling’ would deluge the room.
An article in the Mayo Clinic journal entitled: ‘Patient Care and Health Information’ describes the symptoms of schizophrenia as occurring in adolescents. It said that most afflicted teenagers tend to withdraw from family and friends. A sharp drop in class performance typically follows. Many suffer from insomnia, irritability and depression (Andreasen, 2010). In advanced situations, such children exhibit or harbour suicidal behaviour. Though not a child, Carolyne had most of these symptoms.
An issue of the online journal, The Health Line Newsletter, offers more information on this subject. The paper, edited by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, describes varied symptoms of schizophrenia including disorientation, confusion, the overall dysfunctionality of the individual, lack of desire to socialise, less self-care of the person, dressing and grooming issues, difficulty in thinking and remembering, immobilisation of the individual and episodes of stupor (“Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders | Behavenet”, 2017). Remarkably, Carolyne had almost all of these symptoms of psychosis illness. Schizophrenia is also marked by symptoms that are associated with certain factors. The Mayo Clinic journal outlines a few such symptoms that may occur in patients who tend to misuse drugs and alcohol, like Carolyne. It lists these as paranoia, hallucinations, muscle problems, chills and sweating and reduced inhibitions.
The journal ‘Behave Net,’ published in 1995 and updated in 2017, outlines other symptoms that may be recognised in schizophrenia patients. These include derailment or incoherence in speech as a result of disrupted thought patterns, social and occupational dysfunction and mood disorders. A discussion with Carolyne revealed the possibility of at least ninety-percent of these symptoms in her case (“Mental Fitness Tips – Canadian Mental Health Association”, 2017). The journal advised diagnostic physicians to ensure that most of these symptoms had occurred for a duration of six months and more. This helps to rule out other disorders.‘The Healthline’ newsletter recognises that positive symptoms of schizophrenia do respond well to medical intervention. It was encouraging that Carolyne could recover from such symptoms like hallucination and delusion which are characterised as positive (Kelly, 2008). The Journal explains that positive symptoms may not be right but, because they activate certain brain parts positively, the result is encouraging response to treatment.
The Patient’s Legal Status And Implications On Provision Of Health Care
According to the journal Victoria Legal Aid (Lawyers and Legal Services), the rights of the patient are critical, and medical personnel have to respect these when administering care to patients. The self- help guide to the Mental Health Act, published in 1989 and updated in 2010, outlines the following fundamental rights of patients:.
- No patient should suffer discrimination. All are equal before the law. None should be denied the right to life.
- None should suffer cruel degradation and inhuman treatment.
