Safety Plan for Schizophrenia

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Safety Plan for Schizophrenia
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Introduction
Schizophrenia is a major mental disorder effecting 1% of total population of the world.
This is a serious issue, which needs to be addressed in time and continued efforts of family and
care providers help reducing the risks associated with schizophrenia (NIMH » Schizophrenia,
2018). The case provides an insight into the effect of misdiagnosis and discontinued treatment
that might follow with a schizophrenic patient.
Discussion
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The symptoms for schizophrenia vary from person to person, but the most common
symptoms are idiosyncratic delusion, hallucination with any of the five senses, disorientation in
thoughts and motor skills, word salad, unpredictability, agitation, aggression and suicidal
tendencies (Wilson-d’Almeida et al., 2013).
Ted’s Symptoms
The patient in the case study Ted showed most of these symptoms like delusions,
hallucination and suicidal tendencies which drove him into paranoia and ultimately compelled
him to take his own life after he was discharged from the mental hospital. Ted underwent
hallucinations about being physically restrained by imaginary agents which would disappear
(Modinos et al., 2013) This inflicted suicidal thoughts for which he had to transfer into the
mental hospital. The symptoms minimized during his stay in the mental hospital in the beginning
but his symptoms were recurrent, which made the initial asylum transfer him to a new one. The
second hospital where he was assigned personal staffs to keep him comforted. Ted’s paranoia

2MENTAL HEALTH CARE
went into overdrive when he was released from the asylum and he started believing in delusions
that his life was in danger and that he needed to get back to the hospital for safety. Even when
the patient was in his home, he deluded himself into believing he was not safe and finally took
his life two years later after the death of his care nurse (Saarinen, Lehtonen & Lönnqvist, 1999).
Possible methods to address Ted’s delusion, hallucination and depression
The treatment for schizophrenia is continued throughout life, there is no possible cure for
this kind of a disorder. Medication along with recovery-based therapy reduces the adverse
symptoms, but does not completely cease it (Slade et al., 2014). The treatment is usually done by
regularly visiting a psychiatrist for continued therapy, medications to reduce psychosis, care
under psychiatric asylum or social work centre to provide an all rounded approach to achieve
better mental health. Many anti-psychosis drugs can be administered which neurologically
control the effect of dopamine on brain (Modinos et al., 2013). Psychosocial interventions help
treating the psychosis by approaching the patient with an individualistic perspective. Training
can be provided to the patient, which will help them improve their social skills to reduce anxiety
and aggression. The engagement of family along with psychotherapy and their continued support
improves the patient’s condition. Vocational training for employment can be given to the patients
which will provide a sense of purpose to them and prevent existential crisis (Shepherd et al.,
2014).
Misdiagnosis of Ted
The practitioners in the facility centre did not take into consideration the underlying
trouble that the patient could have possibly been undergoing an existential crisis and depression.
The patient was also lonely which added with his delusional tendencies made him think that his
life was in danger. The practitioners failed to extend the treatment, which increased Ted’s