Schizophrenia Answer Sheet

Diagnosing Randy:
1. Go to the DSM-IV checklist for schizophrenia and list each of Randy’s behaviors that satisfy the symptom criteria for schizophrenia. Which of Randy’s symptoms meet any of the criteria? (Be sure to match specific symptoms with specific criteria.) Randy has cognitive symptoms that include trouble focusing, distress, and difficulty paying attention. His positive symptoms include hallucinations as well as delusions. His negative symptoms are his lack of hygiene and flat effect. 2. How long has Randy been experiencing symptoms that meet the criteria for schizophrenia? Randy has experienced his symptoms since he was 22 or ten years. 3. What type of schizophrenia does Randy display?

Paranoid Schizophrenia
4. What phase of schizophrenia was Randy in during the days before the diner incident? Before the dinner incident Randy was in the Prodromal Phase because of his withdrawal from society and preferred to spend his time alone. 5. What phase was he in at the time of the diner incident that led to his arrest? Because of the disturbing thoughts, delusions and hallucinations Randy was in the active phase at the time he was arrested.

Explaining Randy’s Schizophrenia:
1. What genetic factors may have played a part in Randy’s schizophrenia? His brother’s depression and suicide as well as his father also showed signs of schizophrenia. He may have inherited abnormal biochemical functioning as well as an abnormal brain structure.
2. What biochemical abnormalities might account for Randy’s symptoms? Increase in dopamine levels would explain Randy’s psychotic symptoms; his positive symptoms can be explained by increases in serotonin levels, and increases in Norepinephirine causes decreased pleasure in people with schizophrenia.
3. What might have been the role of family stress in Randy’s disorder? Family stress including his father being critical, communication issues, and conflict are major contributions to his condition. The lack of expressing emotions may have played a role in any recovery efforts. The loss of his brother and other family situations may have brought his predisposition to the front.
4. What sociocultural factors may have played a role in Randy’s schizophrenia? From a sociocultural viewpoint would suggest that maybe his race, as well as his country, and social environment could play a role in his schizophrenia also people labeling him as not normal could have played a role in a self fulfilling prophecy. Sociocultural views may also suggest that family stresses may have been a contribution to his schizophrenia.

Treating Randy:
1. Assume that instead of being jailed for his offenses, Randy is referred to a community health center for treatment planning. You are assigned to be his caseworker. What kind of assessments will you need to do before you begin Randy’s treatment planning? Before Treating Randy a family history would be very helpful to give me an idea of Randy may have been predisposed to his schizophrenia. I would search for abnormalities in his brain with a brain scan. And check for any viral infections that may be causing an illness. Also evaluating Randy’s social situation would be necessary for and overall understanding.

2. What type of medication might you recommend for Randy? I would recommend atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine because they “appear to be more effective than conventional drugs” (Comer, 2015).

3. What mental health treatment modalities would be helpful to Randy in addition to medication? Almost all the therapies can help Randy in one way or another Milieu therapy can help Him by giving him new responsibilities, teach him how to retrieve self-esteem, as well as teach social skills. The token economy program can use operant conditioning to help Randy by using rewards to change the way he thinks. Psychotherapy can teach Randy about his disorder and teach him how to think more clearly, and make changes to his behaviors (Comer, 2015). Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help him understand and control his hallucinations better. And Social therapy can teach Randy how to problem solve, improve his social skills, make sure he is taking his medication correctly as well as help them have a better structure in life (Comer, 2015).

4. What services other than mental health treatment might be beneficial for Randy? Community approach would be helpful to Randy by teaching him to focus on daily tasks and getting him involved in the community as well as help him develop skills and get him help with vocational counseling. I like this approach for Randy he can be supervised as well as independent and provides him with growth toward the future.