Due tomorrow 7/14/2021at 11 PM EST original work a must follow instructions carefully
BACKGROUND
The client is a 34-year-old Pakistani female who moved to the United States in her late teens/early 20s. She is currently in an “arranged” marriage (her husband was selected for her when she was 9 years old). She presents following a 21-day hospitalization for what was diagnosed as “brief psychotic disorder.” She was given this diagnosis as her symptoms have persisted for less than 1 month.
Prior to admission, she was reporting visions of Allah, and over the course of a week, she believed that she was the prophet Mohammad. She believed that she would deliver the world from sin. Her husband became concerned about her behavior to the point that he was afraid of leaving their 4 children with her. One evening, she was “out of control,” which resulted in his calling the police and her subsequent admission to an inpatient psych unit.
During today’s assessment, she appears quite calm and insists that the entire incident was “blown out of proportion.” She denies that she believed herself to be the prophet Mohammad and states that her husband was just out to get her because he never loved her and wanted an “American wife” instead of her. She says she knows this because the television is telling her so.
She currently weighs 140 lbs., and she is 5’ 5.
SUBJECTIVE
Client reports that her mood is “good.” She denies auditory/visual hallucinations but believes that the television talks to her. She believes that Allah sends her messages through the TV. At times throughout the clinical interview, she becomes hostile towards you but then calms down.
A review of her hospital records shows that she received a medical workup from physician, who reported her to be in overall good health. Lab studies were all within normal limits.
Client admits that she stopped taking her Risperdal about a week after she got out of the hospital because she thinks her husband is going to poison her so that he can marry an American woman.
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
The client is alert and oriented to person, place, time, and event. She is dressed appropriately for the weather and time of year. She demonstrates no noteworthy mannerisms, gestures, or tics. Her speech is slow and, at times, interrupted by periods of silence. Self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect is constricted. Although the client denies visual or auditory hallucinations, she appears to be “listening” to something. Delusional and paranoid thought processes as described above. Insight and judgment are impaired. She is currently denying suicidal or homicidal ideation.
You administer the PANSS which reveals the following scores:
-40 for the positive symptoms scale
-20 for the negative symptom scale
-60 for general psychopathology scale
Diagnosis: Schizophrenia, paranoid type
RESOURCES
PANSS Scale. Available at: http://egret.psychol.cam.ac.uk/medicine/scales/PANSS
§ Kay, S. R., Fiszbein, A., & Opler, L. A. (1987). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 13(2), 261–276. doi:10.1093/schbul/13.2.261
§ Clozapine REMS Program. (n.d.). Clozapine REMS: A guide for healthcare providers. Retrieved September 7, 2016, from https://www.clozapinerems.com/CpmgClozapineUI/rems/pdf/resources/Clozapine_REMS_A_Guide_for_Healthcare_Providers.pdf
http://www.ima.org.il/FilesUpload/IMAJ/0/40/20149.pdf
§ Paz, Z., Nalls, M., and Ziv, E. (2011). The genetics of benign neutropenia. Israel Medical Association Journal, 13(10), 625–629. Retrieved from http://www.ima.org.il/FilesUpload/IMAJ/0/40/20149.pdf
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE
Start Abilify (aripiprazole) 10 mg orally at BEDTIME
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Client returns to clinic in four weeks
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Client returns and looks disheveled. Upon questioning, her husband states that she has not been sleeping at night. He states she is up and down all night. It has been disrupting his sleep too
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The client is unable to participate in the PANSS rating tool because she is continually nodding off (sleeping) during the appointment
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The appointment is not productive for assessing how she is responding to the Abilify started 4 weeks ago
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO
Change abilify administrations time to AM dosing
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Client arrives at office appearing to have slept better. Her husband tells you that she is still up and down at night, but it is much less frequently
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He notices that it is better when she takes her medication as soon as she awakens, but some days she forgets and takes it when she remembers (in the afternoon)
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Her PANNS has decreased by 5% since her initial visit
Decision Point Three
DC Abilify. Start Invega oral tablets 6 mg daily and begin the conversation about long-acting injectable antipsychotics in preparation of starting Invega Sustenna at the client’s next appointment
Guidance to Student
This is week 8 since therapy was initiated. Although the client’s side effects seem to be better managed, her PNSS is not changing by much. An acceptable time frame for treatment is defined as 4–6 weeks at an acceptable dose. Increasing Abilify to 20 mg in the morning certainly is an option, but she seems to be forgetful of taking this medication first thing in the morning on occasion and is still experiencing side effects when it is taken later in the day. It might be a good time to explore other options.
Latuda is a medication that behaves much like Geodon (ziprasidone). It offers a once-daily dosing option and weight gain is minimal. She would not be expected to experience the insomnia and akathisia that has been experienced on the Abilify. Tolerability can be an issue as doses are escalated. Particularly, nausea, vomiting, and extrapyramidal side effects can be problematic and therefore good counseling points to clients. Clients usually tolerate lower doses (40 mg) but significant GI distress and movement disorders can occur when doses are pushed upward toward the daily max of 160 mg.
Invega oral therapy is a good option as it has a once daily dosing option, and it has a greater effect at the D2 receptor than Abilify and may offer more efficacy and less insomnia and akathisia than seen in Abilify. It has a long-acting option that can be given monthly (to start). With good efficacy maintained over a 4-month period, it can be changed to once every 3 months. This is a good option in someone where compliance can be problematic.