A 58-year-old woman with a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia, who has been continuously treated with antipsychotics for the past 20 years, lives in a community-based residential facility. She has recently suffered an increase in auditory hallucinations, and her haloperidol dose has been increased from 2.5 to 10 mg/day. Four days later, she is brought by a visiting nurse to the emergency room, where she presents with confusion, marked flexor and extensor rigidity in her legs and arms, and a temperature of 103.5
A 58-year-old woman with a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia, who has been continuously treated with antipsychotics for the past 20 years, lives in a community-based residential facility. She has recently suffered an increase in auditory hallucinations, and her haloperidol dose has been increased from 2.5 to 10 mg/day. Four days later, she is brought by a visiting nurse to the emergency room, where she presents with confusion, marked flexor and extensor rigidity in her legs and arms, and a temperature of 103.5
A 58-year-old woman with a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia, who has been continuously treated with antipsychotics for the past 20 years, lives in a community-based residential facility. She has recently suffered an increase in auditory hallucinations, and her haloperidol dose has been increased from 2.5 to 10 mg/day. Four days later, she is brought by a visiting nurse to the emergency room, where she presents with confusion, marked flexor and extensor rigidity in her legs and arms, and a temperature of 103.5
A 37-year-old woman telephones to alert her psychiatrist that she has developed a severe pain in her right eye that has persisted for about 5 hours. She has no history of migraine headaches. The psychiatrist is treating her with 150 mg imipramine for major depression. She denies any recent injury or infection in this eye. She wears corrective lenses for nearsightedness. Which of the following is the most appropriate step in management?
A 40-year old man has been treated for chronic paranoid schizophrenia for many years with a typical neuroleptic. To decrease his risk for tardive dyskinesia, his psychiatrist wants to change his medication to an atypical antipsychotic. Which of the following atypical antipsychotics is limited in its use by the risk of agranulocytosis, which occurs in 12% of all patients treated?
A 45-year-old homeless schizophrenic patient presents to you with suicidal ideation. You interview him and find out he is a divorced Roman Catholic. He recently lost his job after being caught a second time drinking on the job. He had attempted suicide impulsively 5 years previous by overdosing. He is not currently psychotic. He bought a handgun and ammunition recently and has been thinking about shooting himself in the head. He has gotten as close to acting on it as having loaded the gun and held it up to his head this morning. Someone walking by stopped him and convinced him to come and see you. He is ambivalent about seeking help. Which of the following is not associated with an increased suicide risk?
A 45-year-old homeless schizophrenic patient presents to you with suicidal ideation. You interview him and find out he is a divorced Roman Catholic. He recently lost his job after being caught a second time drinking on the job. He had attempted suicide impulsively 5 years previous by overdosing. He is not currently psychotic. He bought a handgun and ammunition recently and has been thinking about shooting himself in the head. He has gotten as close to acting on it as having loaded the gun and held it up to his head this morning. Someone walking by stopped him and convinced him to come and see you. He is ambivalent about seeking help Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate treatment recommendation?
A45-year-old woman, seen by her medical internist, has been experiencing fears that she may have a serious illness. She complains that after eating she experiences "a lot of gas" and abdominal pain, followed by diarrhea on occasion. Her heart at times seems to be beating rapidly, and she feels faint at times, has chest "discomfort," and wonders if she is having a heart attack. Multiple tests have identified only a mild irritable bowel syndrome. The woman's fears are not allayed by this. She makes repeated calls to be seen by her doctors as well as seeking consultation from other specialists. She insists that "there's something there" and believes the doctors are not taking her seriously. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A45-year-old woman, seen by her medical internist, has been experiencing fears that she may have a serious illness. She complains that after eating she experiences "a lot of gas" and abdominal pain, followed by diarrhea on occasion. Her heart at times seems to be beating rapidly, and she feels faint at times, has chest "discomfort," and wonders if she is having a heart attack. Multiple tests have identified only a mild irritable bowel syndrome. The woman's fears are not allayed by this. She makes repeated calls to be seen by her doctors as well as seeking consultation from other specialists. She insists that "there's something there" and believes the doctors are not taking her seriously. Which of the following is the most effective long-term management of this patient?