Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

The Relationship Between Quality Of Life And Functionality In Patients With Schizophrenia – A Preliminary Report, Vlad Dionisie, Mihnea Costin Manea, Manea Mirela, Lavinia Steluta Bonciu, Sorin Riga, Maria Gabriela Puiu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between quality of life and level of functioning in a group of Romanian patients with schizophrenia. A cross-sectional, observational, prospective study on 47 patients with schizophrenia was conducted. Socio-demographic and clinical data were documented and WHOQOL-BREF and Life Skills Profile-16 instruments were further administered. To examine the correlation between variables, Person correlation test was employed. The mean age of the sample was 38.32±12.32 years and 66% of the patients were males. Significant correlations were found between all aspects of the quality of life (physical health, psychological, social relationships and environmental health) and total …

Supersensitivity Psychosis With Acute Dystonia, Tatiana Nunez, Gabriella Meyerson, Mays Alani, Shahid Elahi, Enrique Vargas

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Supersensitivity psychosis is a phenomenon that occurs with chronic usage of antipsychotics secondary to treatment resistance. At this time, there are no standardized guidelines regarding the management of supersensitivity psychosis.

Case Presentation

We present a case of a patient with schizoaffective disorder who developed supersensitivity psychosis and acute dystonia in response to discontinuing psychotropic medications, including high-dose quetiapine and olanzapine. The patient presented with excessive anxiety, paranoia, bizarre thoughts, and generalized dystonia affecting the face, trunk, and extremities. We treated the patient with olanzapine, valproic acid, and diazepam, which alleviated the psychosis back to baseline and significantly improved the …

Sexual Obsessions In A Patient With Schizophrenia, Mohsin Raza, Barbara L. Gracious

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia are often initially unrecognized or missed entirely in the diagnostic process. Sexual obsession is common in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, identifying sexual obsession early in treatment has significant implications for appropriate multidisciplinary management and prognosis. We report the case of a Hispanic male in his 20s who presented with self-injurious behavior and worsening psychotic symptoms in the context of a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia and without a past diagnosis or historical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This report elucidates the importance of identifying the underlying cause of self-injurious behavior, which in this young man was due …

Gender Dysphoria Versus Acute Psychosis: Can One Properly Diagnose Gender Dysphoria Solely During Acute Psychosis?, Kristy A. Fisher, Samantha Scemla, Clara L. Alvarez Villalba, Jessica Kroin

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Gender dysphoria occurs when a discrepancy between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity causes distress or impairment in function, which can lead ultimately to seeking treatment in the forms of psychotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or gender-affirming surgery. Clinical care guidelines also recommend pharmacological treatment of psychiatric comorbidities if indicated. A review of the current literature demonstrates comorbidity between gender dysphoria and psychosis, including cases of gender dysphoria with schizophrenia and the occurrence of gender dysphoria symptoms during manic or psychotic episodes. The existing literature has yet to specifically examine gender dysphoria amongst individuals with schizoaffective disorder. The authors …

Through The Cracks: The Disposition Of Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders In The Post-Asylum Era, Briana Tillman, Erin Smith, Alicia Cho, Colt Kennington, Alexandra Kreis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

This paper aims to explore current disposition options for patients with psychosis in light of shifts toward community care and changes in mental healthcare funding in the post-asylum era and to propose systemic-level improvements based upon local successes. It evaluates critiques of long-term psychiatric care programs, claims of transinstitutionalization to incarceration, shelters, and emergency rooms, and programs initiated to address deinstitutionalization. The authors conclude that while Assertive Community Treatment, Partial Hospitalization Programs, intermediate-level care, and housing interventions can improve outcomes for many persons with psychotic illness, a significant portion of these patients would still be best served in long-term psychiatric …

Homoeopathy As An Add-On Treatment For Schizophrenia - A Case Series, S Karunakara Moorthi, Radhika P, Mohan N. Devasia

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a complex, progressive and severe mental disorder characterised by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour. Conventional medication and cognitive behaviour therapy are used in the treatment of schizophrenia. Homoeopathy can also offer promising results in schizophrenia as evident from the previous studies. Case Summary: Five patients reported at the outpatient department of National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health, Kerala, India, with symptoms of schizophrenia were treated with individualised homoeopathic medicine as an add-on therapy to conventional medicines. Assessment of the patients was done using three scales: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, …

A Psychopharmacology Review Of Brexpiprazole, Nicole A. Marion

Conspectus Borealis

Brexpiprazole is an antipsychotic drug often used to help treat schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. This review paper breaks down the drugs history including what it is used for, how it is used, and how it was developed. Pharmacokinetics including administration routes, steady states, and metabolism. This review also describes pharmacodynamics, focusing on drug affinity. It will also discuss pharmacological effects pulling evidence from clinical trials. Last this review will describe the toxicology and safety of brexpiprazole.

Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome And Psychosis: A Case Report, Tarvis Peacock, Ubaid Khokhar, Jaclyn Murphy, Zach Murphy

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Hallermann-Streiff syndrome is a rare genetic congenital disorder, with fewer than 200 cases reported to date, that is characterized by brachycephaly with frontal bossing, micrognathia, a “bird-like” beaked nose, microphthalmia with congenital cataracts, dental abnormalities, hypotrichosis, skin atrophy, and short stature. There is limited data on psychosis in individuals with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome; the information available depicts mania rather than psychosis. This case report reviews the presentation and treatment of psychosis in a 32-year-old male with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome who was involuntarily admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit for persecutory delusions and hallucinations. The patient’s psychosis responded well to risperidone with a …

Insane: James Holmes, Clark V. Arizona, And America's Insanity Defense, Eric Collins

Journal of Law and Health

Insanity is a legal term of art that changes definitions depending on the legal standard in American jurisprudence, which explains why a man who mental health professionals described as having an uncontrollable obsession with killing people can be found not insane and guilty. This Note addresses the current state of the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 and its widespread implementation at the state level. Part II supplies background information on the history of the insanity defense and how it has transformed over the years in American jurisprudence. Part III provides an analysis of the of the insanity defense. Part …

Direct And Indirect Influences Of Defendant Mental Illness On Jury Decision Making, Marie Sabbagh

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

It is a common misconception that individuals with schizophrenia are significantly more dangerous and violent than individuals free of mental illness. This stigmatization may lead to harsher sentences when people with schizophrenia are involved in criminal activities and sentenced by a jury. This study presented four conditions to which participants were randomly assigned, alone or in a group of three, and were asked to sentence a defendant, either with or without schizophrenia. It was hypothesized that group deliberations would result in more lenient sentences for defendants with schizophrenia as compared to individual deliberations. Furthermore, it was predicted that both group …

Facing Our Demons: Psychiatric Perspectives On Exorcism Rituals, Joel R. Sanford

The Hilltop Review

Belief in possession by malevolent spirits exists in many cultures and religions throughout the world, and such beliefs often serve as explanations for a variety of psychological and emotional afflictions. Traditional remedies in these cases often involve exorcism rituals, which are believed to expel spirits from a person's mind and/or body. Some of the cases commonly attributed to involuntary spirit possession are diagnosed within the psychiatric community as schizophrenia or some sort of dissociative disorder and treated with psychotherapy and/or medicine. For some in the psychiatric community, exorcisms and their use by patients are viewed as problematic due to their …