NCLEX Review & Nursing School

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations,
delusions and disordered thinking and behavior.

Assessment
– person maybe socially withdrawn
– lack of personal grooming.
– hallucinations
– confused and disorganized thinking.

Antipsychotic Agents (Neuroleptic)

• Used to treat psychotic conditions.
• Blocks the dopamine receptors.

Antipsychotic Drugs

• Haloperidol (Haldol)
• Thioridazine (Mellaril)

Antipsychotic medications are used to treat

• schizophrenia
• schizophrenia-related disorders.

They are called conventional “typical” antipsychotics:

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• Haloperidol (Haldol)
• Perphenazine (generic only)
• Fluphenazine (generic only)

Atypical antipsychotics were developed:

• Risperidone (Risperdal)
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
• Ziprasidone (Geodon)
• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
• Paliperidone (Invega).

The antipsychotics listed here are some of the medications used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia.

Side effects of many antipsychotics include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness when changing positions
• Blurred vision
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sensitivity to the sun
• Skin rashes
• Menstrual problems for women.

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY/ ECT

– ECT is an electric shock that is given to the brain.  The electrodes are placed within the temples of the brain.  What ECT does is that it gives the brain a shock that can usually cause and induce an artificial grand mal seizures.

Interventions:
– Client is NPO for up to 6 hours prior to treatment.
– Remove any dentures.