Nursing Case Study - Mental Health Nursing

Running head: Mental Health Nursing
Nursing Case Study
-Mental Health Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1Mental Health Nursing
Introduction to Schizophrenia:
Schizophrenia can be understood as a chronic form of mental health disorder that
affects how an individual behaves, thinks or feels. Schizophrenic patients often seem distant
or disconnected with reality, and even though it is not a common disorder, the effects can be
very debilitating (Nimh.nih.gov 2018). Individuals suffering from Schizophrenia might often
experience auditory hallucinations (‘hearing voices’), and develop paranoia (thinking
someone is trying to hurt them). It can also affect their communication, emotions and thought
process, and also reduce their ability to take care of themselves or to retain their jobs
(Medlineplus.gov 2018).
Aetiology:
Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the global population. Till date the exact cause(s)
of schizophrenia or schizoid disorders have not been fully identified, however studies do
show that such conditions can develop through a complex interaction between environmental,
genetic physical and psychological factors. It might be possible that some people to be more
prone to develop this condition, where certain events can trigger an episode of psychosis
(nhs.uk 2018; Cunningham and Peters 2014). Tsoi, Hunter and Woodruff (2008) pointed out
those genetic factors can play a crucial role in the aetiology of schizophrenia. This is justified
by the fact that early brain development pattern of the brain and its neurotransmitter receptor
system is highly regulated by genetic codes, and that environmental stress and ‘expressed
emotion’ can cause an onset of the disorder. Other environmental factors that can also lead to
the development of this disorder include exposure to viruses, malnutrition before birth, birth
complications and psychosocial factors (Nimh.nih.gov 2018). Difference in brain chemistry
and structures, involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate is also being linked
with schizophrenia, while other studies shows such dysfunction can also occur during the

2Mental Health Nursing
development of the brain during puberty, caused by genetic and environmental factors
(Steiner et al. 2015).
Signs and Symptoms:
Onset of schizophrenia can occur between the ages of 16 to 30 years, but can also
occur in children in rare cases. The symptoms caused due to schizophrenia can be classified
into two categories: positive symptoms (like delusions or hallucinations that can alter
thought processing, behaviour and cause detachment from reality) and negative symptoms
(that can lead to withdrawal, disruptions to normal emotions and lack of function).
Hallucinations can include seeing, hearing, feeling smelling or tasting something that does
not exist out of the mind, and auditory hallucination (hearing voices) is the most common
among them. The voices heard in these episodes of hallucination generally describe events or
activities, discuss the thoughts or behaviour of the individual, instruct on specific actions, and
also engage in active communication. The voices can also seem to come from different
sources. Delusional symptoms include having a false or wrong conviction about something,
based on an unrealistic or mistaken idea. This can severely affect the behaviour of the person.
The episodes of hallucination can also lead to paranoid delusions (feeling that someone is,
or attempting to watch, follow or even chase or persecute them). Though Disorders can also
occur in schizophrenia that can affect their though process and cognition, leading to
confusion. Though disorders can also reduce the ability to concentrate or communicate, and
subsequently make the person more erratic and disorganized, and cause mood swings. The
negative symptoms can cause a loss of motivation to care for themselves, and severity affect
the memory, attention span, and can also cause depression and withdrawal and reduce
cognitive and executive functioning as well as coherence (nimh.nih.gov 2018; nhs.uk
2018).