WK6 Discussion SOCW 6443: Treating Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic Disorder Case Study: Ralph

Psychotic Disorder Case Study: Ralph Program Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

RALPH: My name is Ralph. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia 35 years ago. I've worked extremely hard to keep it together over the years. And the medication has really helped. There's just one thing—well, two, really. I now weigh 295 pounds. And I have developed this weird tic.

When it first started, I barely noticed that my arm twists up every few seconds. My grandmother told me she thought I might have Parkinson's disease. Oh, great, I thought, just what I need, another major condition.

But after talking with my psychiatrist—Dr. Davis died a couple of weeks ago, by the way—he told me they were extrapyramidal effects, or something like that. I guess taking Mellaril for 35 years really did a number on me. Well, it causes these weird tics.

I decided that it wasn't worth me staying on this medication. Of course, after about two weeks off of it, the glitters were back. I had forgotten how real those things seem. I could hear mumblings of things that don't really make sense, and every once in awhile I think I see a flash. I think of them as little Tinkerbells. But I haven't ever been able to really make one out.

I know they can't be real because they went away on the medication. Well, I stopped that right quick. I went back in the Mellaril and was fine. But I ended up gaining the last 50 pounds. And the tic got even worse. Well, at least no glitters. Anyway, Dr. Davis is gone. And I really want all this to get better. I know I'm here to talk to you about learning to make it on my own. But isn't there something that can be done about all these issues?

How am I ever going to get a date looking like this? How am I ever going to be able to keep a job? It's tough enough being blah old me. Why does it have to be harder just because I don't want the glitters around?

Psychotic Disorder Case Study: Ralph Additional Content Attribution

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© 2014 Laureate Education, Inc. 1

Psychotic Disorder Case Study: Ralph

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© 2014 Laureate Education, Inc. 2