Schizophrenia is a debilitating condition that affects the person’s senses to perceive and think in the right manner. Highly characterized by the presence of hallucinations and delusions, it makes the lives of the affected people very problematic and reduces overall functionality.
Today, we discuss the case of A.K (alias), who faced some issues following his diagnosis fof nasopharyngeal cancer.
Let’s understand how Tulasi’s team helped him understand his issue and drafted a treatment regime that proved to be helpful in the long run. Gutentor Simple Text
Case study: AK’s journey to transformation
Let’s go through AKs journey in detail and try to understand the root cause of his issues. A 41 year old US citizen, AK approached us when his family felt behavioral changes during his treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer. With no known family history of mental illnesses, he faced the presenting symptoms from the last 6 months. Since he was in India for treatment of his cancer, he decided to approach us for his behavioral issues.
Initial Assessment
As per the collected information, the client belonged to a high socioeconomic status, was divorced and self employed. As the symptoms progressed, the client became hopeless about his future and was very restless. The daily functioning and quality of life were deteriorating with the presence of two major issues at once. The client had no reported history of psychiatric illnesses in the family, and the presenting problems were evident from the last 6 months.With an in depth analysis, Tulasi Healthcare team managed to reach the root cause of the issue.
- Mental Status Examination- The client’s behavioral condition had deteriorated drastically, with a withdrawn appetite and complete withdrawal from social interactions.Consciousness- He was conscious throughout the whole process
Cooperation- The client cooperated with the caregivers without any difficulty
Orientation- The client was oriented with the time, place and person
Mood- He reported his mood status as ‘not okay’
Affect- His affect was ‘quite restricted’
Thoughts- He experienced delusions of persecution and suicidal ideation
Judgment- His judgment was quite impaired.
Insight- His insight level was Grade 1 - Reported symptoms- AK reported several chief complaints that prompted a vigilant investigation into his condition. These included-
– Suspiciousness
– Social isolation- According to the family, the client believed that he could transmit the disease to them, so he decided to isolate himself in order to save them.
– Low mood- He continuously felt disturbed and depressed, which led to a reduced appetite and withdrawal.
– Ideas of hopelessness- He became hopeless about his future and became increasingly restless and helpless.
– Refusal of treatment- Despite of active insight, the client actively refused treatment
– Death wishes and suicidal ideation- 4 months into his behavioral changes, he attempted suicide by banging his head and trying to strangle himself.
Curating a treatment plan: AK’s journey to transformation
Since the symptoms displayed were quite indicative, the experts thoroughly drew up AK’s treatment plan. According to one of the best psychiatrists in Delhi, a very effective and highly transformative plan was drawn up and applied with the client’s consent.
Let’s assess the treatment plan in detail-
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy– The CBT approach in AKs case focused on depressive cognition and curbing of delusional thoughts. The experts built the sessions in such a manner that the client recognized the negative thought patterns and challenged them effectively. CBT aimed to produce a healthier coping mechanism keeping in mind the client’s physical condition (nasopharyngeal cancer) . This altered his beliefs about his condition and generated motivation towards accepting treatment.
- Family dynamics– Since the client faced the problem of social isolation, family therapy was introduced to study the dynamics between family members and gain more insights. The sessions were mainly aimed towards one member of the family who showed severe strain. The sessions were guided in such a way that they not only improved the dynamics within his family but also focused on accelerating his recovery.
- Activity scheduling– To tackle the issue of social withdrawal and reduction in psychomotor activity, a routine/ daily schedule was implemented. This helped him re-engage in social activities and pick up a pace in his routine that provided a sense of comfort and reduced avoidance behaviors as well. This also introduced a positive segment of control and power in his lifestyle.
- Insight generation– After a few sessions when improvement was seen, insight generation kicked off. This ensured providing abundant psychoeducation to the client about his condition and what his journey forward would look like. All of this was coupled with the therapy sessions aiming to show him the connection between his thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and fostering acceptance of his mental health issues.
- Electroconvulsive therapy– Since AK had reached a severe level of delusions and perception issues, a non-traditional treatment method like ECT acted as an impact factor in his treatment journey. AK underwent 5 cycles of ECT which contributed significantly to the reduction of his depressive symptoms and delusional thinking.
According to the final MMSE score, the client received a score of 25- which is a drastic change from his initial score of 7, which is considered to be a very low score.
Final thoughts on AK’s condition
AK showed a gradual improvement over the course of treatment. The frequency and intensity of his delusional thoughts decreased and his mood stabilized over the course of the treatment. With the combination of ECT and CBT, his suicidal ideation reduced and he began to reconnect with his family and social circles. Conclusion Through this case, we exhibit the highest care and the level of understanding our caregivers exhibit in finding the root cause of your issues. With physical issues at hand, psychological problems can emerge, which is quite common. As one of the best psychiatric hospitals in Delhi, we are committed to bringing our best to the table. As unyielding professionals, our commitment for your well-being stands on the topmost pedestal. To know more about schizophrenia and how we can step in to help your loved ones, visit the Best psychiatrist for schizophrenia treatment.
