preview

Case Study On Schizophrenia

Decent Essays

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic and disabling mental disorder, involving a complex set of disturbances, associated with abnormalities of brain structure and function, disorganised speech and behaviour, delusions, and hallucinations1. The initial stage in treatment involves assessing the patient’s risk. A comprehensive biopsychosocial model of assessment should be embedded in all suicide risk assessment2. Due to the complex interplay of factors in each case, NICE has advised that standardised questionnaires and tools are of limited use and ‘can be harmful2. Tailoring the risk assessment to the diagnosis, stage of illness, and individual risk/protective factors is the gold standard for assessment2. Therefore, this process is a multistage continuum, examining ideation, intent and plan as initial indicators of risk, and suicide attempt as a long term measure of risk3. This is particularly complex in SCZ because suicide attempts often occur without warning or any verbal expression of intent, therefore predictive factors are limited4. In Mrs X’s case, it was an impulsive act, resulting in greater difficulty …show more content…

The most consistent measure that confers a protective factor in the context of suicidality in SCZ is the delivery and adherence to treatment2. Bringing an acute episode to remission as soon as possible and preventing relapse is essential in maintaining function and well- being5. Implementing a comprehensive, patient-centered biopsychosocial model of care is integral to effective care. In 1977, Engel first introduced this concept which aims to ‘broaden the approach to disease’ beyond the traditional medical model6. This method places greater emphasis on the patent’s “verbal account” 6. Management of this case will now be discussed using the biopsychosocial model as a framework to understand the determinants of disease and guide treatment

Get Access