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 since she was 9 years old). She presents to your office today 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 tells you that she knows this because the television is telling her so. She currently weighs 140 lbs, and is 5’ 5” SUBJECTIVE Client reports that her mood is “good.” She denies auditory/visual hallucinations, but believes that the television does talk to her. She believes that Allah sends her messages through the TV. At times throughout the clinical interview, she becomes hostile towards the PMHNP, but then calms down. You reviewed her hospital records and find that she has been medically worked up by a 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, 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 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. The PMHNP administers 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 § Kay, S. R., Fiszbein, A., & Opler, L. A. (1987). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 13(2), 261-276. § Clozapine REMS. (2015). Clozapine REMS: The single shared system for clozapine. Retrieved from https://www.clozapinerems.com/CpmgClozapineUI/rems/pdf/resources/Clozapine_REMS_A_Guide_ for_Healthcare_Providers.pdf § Paz, Z., Nalls, M. & Ziv, E. (2011). The genetics of benign neutropenia. Israel Medical Association Journal. 13. 625-629. Select what the PMHNP should do: -Start Zyprexa 10mg orally at bedtime -Start Invega sustenna 234mg IM X1 followed by 156mg IM on day 4 and monthly thereafter. -Start Abilify 10mg orally at bedtime Decision tree to use. Decision Point One start Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 10mg po orally at BEDTIME RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE • • • Client returns to clinic in four weeks Client's PANSS decreases to a partial response (25%) Client comes in today with a reported weight gain of 5 pounds. When questioned further on this point, she states that she can never seem to get full from her meals so she is snacking constantly throughout the day. Decision Point Two Change medication to Geodon 40 mg orally BID with meals RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO • • • • Client returns to clinic in four weeks Client has a significant reduction in her PANSS (reduction of 40%) Client notices her weight is down slightly from the previous visit (lost 2 pounds) and that her hunger has been curbed since starting this med Client does complain that it is difficult to remember the second dose and admits to missing afternoon doses on several occasions over the past month Decision Point Three Change the Geodon to 80 MG orally at bedtime daily and monitor for breakthrough symptoms throughout the day Guidance to Student Changing to Risperdal oral therapy to test for side effects and then switching to Invega Sustenna is a good option in a patient who has problems with compliance and who shows good effect from oral therapy. The manufacturer advertises that patients can be switched from an entirely different medication to Invega Sustenna if tolerability can be shown through oral therapy. From a clinical standpoint, the patient may or may not respond to the medication and therefore this could be a waste of time. Remember, manufacturers have a product to sell and there information should always be verified before implementing into clinical practice. Although Geodon is recommended twice daily with meals, some providers will choose to give the dose once a day and monitor for efficacy in patients who have compliance issues with BID dosing regimens. Latuda is a medication that behaves much like Geodon but is taken only once daily. This makes it a good option for someone who responds to Geodon but has compliance problems with the twice daily dosing. Tolerability can be an issue as doses are escalated. Particularly, nausea, vomiting and extrapyramidal side effects can be problematic and therefore good counseling is recommended for clients. Patients 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. 
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