The Patient That Will Be Discussed

Every child in this study also experienced delusions, which were sometimes linked to their hallucinations. These were also somewhat simple in nature compared to the delusions adults experience, but not so simple as the hallucinations. One vivid example of a delusion experienced by a child was his belief that there was a baby in his throat that was telling him to kill himself, leading him to eventually reach down his throat to try to remove this baby. These delusions also seemed to last for a shorter span of time than the hallucinations.

In this paper one will give a description of the data established upon a case study. One will outline the major symptoms of the disorder discussed in the case. The disorder discussed in this case is Paranoid Schizophrenia. One will give a description of the client background. One will also describe any factors in the client background that may predispose him or her to the disorder. One will describe symptoms that he or she may have observed that supports the diagnosis of the individual. One will describe the inconsistency of the disorder found in the case and explain any information observed about the

Since the narrator is left alone for most of the day, she allows her mind to go wild with fantasies and is forced to deal with her thoughts by herself. This ultimately chips away at her mental condition and makes her illness far worse. "I can see a strange, provoking, formless sort of figure, that seems to skulk about behind that silly and conspicuous front design." (Gilman 185) This quote

PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS Psychotic disorders are a collection of disorders in which psychosis predominates the symptom complex. Psychosis is defined as a gross impairment in reality testing. Specific psychotic symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, ideas of reference, and disorders of thought Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)

Within this case study I am going to use two of the Chapelhow et al. (2005) enablers to discuss and reflect on the care of a patient I have been involved with on placement over a period of 5 weeks. ‘Enablers are the essential and underpinning skills that come together to provide expert professional practice’ (Chapelhow, C et al. 2005, p.2). These include; assessment, communication, documentation, risk, professional decision making and managing uncertainty. The enablers work together to provide a holistic approach to the care of patients in health care settings. I am going to focus on and discuss two of the enablers, linking them both together, which will be assessment and communication as I believe these two enablers can be related most to my patient.

According the fourth edition diagnostic manual of mental disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), the category psychotic disorders (Psychosis) include Schizophrenia, paranoid (Delusional), disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, residual type. Other clinical types include Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder/Manic depression, mania, Psychotic depression, delusional (paranoid) disorders. These are mental disorders in which the thoughts, affective response or ability to recognize reality, and ability to communicate and relate to others are sufficiently impaired to interfere grossly with the capacity to deal with reality; the classical and general characteristics of psychosis are impaired reality testing,

Originally, it Napoleon Bonaparte of the Napoleonic Wars, Adolf Hitler of the Holocaust, and then Gaëtan Dugas of the AIDS Epidemic. However, one, of these men was falsely accused for being the starting point for the death of revolting amounts of people. This man is Gaëtan Dugas who is also infamously known as Patient Zero. The “Patient Zero” story initially portrayed Dugas as the man who single handedly springing forth the AIDS epidemic. This in turn lead to the viral massacre of millions of people. Over the course of this class, however, we have learned how to decipher between the fabricated accounts of history and the irrefutable truth of reality. The analysis of both sides of the spectrum really opened my eyes to the whole Dugas situation, and showed me how imperative it is to have all the pieces of one story before making any judgment. This is also why I enjoyed reading and listening to the three sources that were given to us in class. These three sources are the article, “Patient Zero: The Absence of the Patient’s View of Eearly North American AIDS Epidemic,” by Richard A. McKay, the podcast “Patient Zero” by Radio Lab, and the science article “’Patient Zero’ No More,” by Jon Cohen. These sources gave me tremendous insight into the “Patient Zero” situation and really revealed more truthfulness to the matter.

symptoms of delusions (Frank, 1998). According to Foster and Levinson (1998) this client has a

Additional, inferences about the disorder are provided by Whitcomb and Merrell (2013). The authors characterize the symptoms of schizophrenia as delusions that are “typically bizarre and implausible” and pronounced hallucinations such as hearing voices for long periods of time (p. 363). Additional, impairments noted by the authors include “severe disturbances in perception, thought and affect, a severe decline in personal and social functioning, poor personal hygiene, inability to function effectively at school or work, and a severe impairment in social relationships” (Whitcomb and Merrell, 2013 p.363).

Schizophrenia is the most commonly diagnosed psychotic disorder (Steel, 2012), affecting 1 out of every 100 hundred people on average (Taurier & Wykes, 2004). Symptoms of the disorder include positive symptoms, which are auditory and visual hallucinations, as well as disordered patterns of thought such as delusions (Taurier & Wykes, 2004). Auditory hallucinations are the most common positive symptom, and often come in the form of voices (Steel, 2012). Delusions, which are the most common symptom of schizophrenia, involve a false belief that exists despite evidence being available that suggests otherwise (Steel, 2012).

The medical model of abnormal psychology treats mental disorders in the same way as a broken arm, i.e. there is thought to be a physical cause. Supporters of the medical model consequently consider symptoms to be outward signs of the inner physical disorder and believe that if symptoms are grouped together and classified into a ‘syndrome’ the true cause can eventually be discovered and appropriate physical treatment administered. Behaviors such as hallucinations are 'symptoms' of mental illness as are suicidal ideas or extreme fears such as phobias about snakes and so on. Different illnesses can be identified as 'syndromes',

Paranoid Schizophrenia is the most common diagnosed type. The individuals who suffer from this form of schizophrenia are delusional, suspicious of anyone, fearful and become obsessed with tasks to keep the one’s they think will do harm to them at bay. It becomes an overwhelming task of “fight versus flight” in their daily lives. This is an incurable, long-term psychosis. There is medication and treatment for the impaired individual whom without such intervention may worsen, harm others, or themselves.

Although schizophrenia seems like a rare illness, there are an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States alone who suffer from this disorder (“Schizophrenia” 3). The most common form of this mental illness is paranoid schizophrenia, which is defined as a chronic mental illness in which a person loses touch with reality and is preoccupied with delusions (“Mental Health and Schizophrenia” 5). Symptoms of this disorder include auditory hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, anger, emotional distance, violence, argumentativeness, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and self-important or condescending manner. Auditory hallucinations are when one hears sounds, usually voices, that are not real. The voices will give criticisms, insults, and commands (“Paranoid Schizophrenia” 5). Delusions are false beliefs that one refuses to give up despite being proved wrong with facts, a very common one being that someone is out to get the person (“Mental Health and Schizophrenia” 13). However, one could also have delusions of grandeur, which are false impressions of one’s own importance. Delusions can lead to aggression or violence if one believes they must defend themselves against those who want to cause them harm (“Paranoid Schizophrenia” 4). The narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart” clearly has paranoid schizophrenia because he displays the symptoms of auditory hallucinations, delusions, violence or aggression, and anxiety.

The book, The Patient Will See You Now, by Eric Topol, withholds an extreme amount of educational value and discusses how the vast world of medicine can combine with the ever-expanding world of technology to make things such as medical information, diagnoses, treatments, and even prescriptions at our fingertips. This book takes the point of view from Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist who is trying to better the world of medicine while increasing the convenience of it at the same time. The goal that Dr. Topol is trying to establish is that in this day and age, there is absolutely no need for one to have to wait so long to see a doctor. In fact, why should the general population have to wait what feels like hours in a waiting room, or even days for an appointment to be made when everything can be presented right in front of us? Medicine is advancing at such a fast rate that now scientists and doctors can find cures to diseases in a matter of months, or sometimes even days after they are discovered. Since we have such high advances in the fields of science and medicine, people all over the world (more than just doctors and nurses) should have access to know what these diseases do and how to cure them the second that they are discovered. This concept seems something that would be nearly impossible to achieve, but thanks to breakthroughs in new technology and silicon, this dream can surely turn into a reality.

A twist on the "patient's perspective" approach is to describe a time when medicine failed to save or heal someone close to you. The purpose of this tactic would not of course be to rail against the medical profession, but rather to show how a disappointing loss inspired you to join the struggle against disease and sickness.