Client with a Psychotic Disorder

2485 Words5 Pages

This case study will discuss a client with a Psychotic Disorder. The term psychosis is used to describe a group of severe mental health disorders characterised by the presence of delusions and hallucinations that disrupt a person's perception, thoughts, emotions and behaviour. The main forms of psychosis are schizophrenia (including schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder and delusional disorder), bipolar disorder or other affective psychosis (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Great Britain), British Psychological Society, National Library of Medicine, National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (Great Britain), & Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2011). The client discussed throughout this case study, John Smith (alias for confidentiality) is a 29 year old forensic client who has been given a diagnoses of Schizophreniform psychosis with a differential diagnosis of drug induced psychosis. This is also complicated with John’s limited insight into illness (anosognosia). Gabriel Langfeldt (1895–1983) first used the term “schizophreniform” in 1939, at the University Psychiatric Clinic in Oslo, Norway, to describe a condition with sudden onset and benign course associated with mood symptoms and clouding of consciousness (Strakowski, 1994). The text revision of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) describes schizophreniform disorder as similar to schizophrenia, except that its symptoms last at least one month but less than six months (Barch et al, 2013). Schizophreniform disorder is an acute psychotic disorder that has a rapid onset and lacks a long prodromal phase. Although many patients with schizophreniform disorder may experience functional impai...

... middle of paper ...

...e result can be alienation and lack of trust,37–39 compounded by cultural misunderstanding. (Snowden, 2003).

In conclusion, John’s risk factors are being well managed by his current assertive psychiatric treatment. It is positive that John does not currently have active symptoms of a mental illness, does not express any negative attitudes, does not display impulsivity and is responsive to treatment. However, John continues to struggle with unresolved grief issues and guilt. Whilst it is positive that John has developed good insight into the impact of illegal substances on his mental state and plans to remain abstinent, given his history he does remain at risk of relapse to substance abuse in the future. It is positive that John is currently compliant with medication and the risk of him being non-adherent whilst under the Forensic Order is relatively low.

Open Document