PSYCHOSIS
TREATMENTS |
|
|
Psychosis that is symptomatic of
schizophrenia or another psychiatric disorder should be treated by a
psychologist and/or psychiatrist. An appropriate course of
medication and/or psychosocial therapy is employed to treat the
underlying primary disorder. If the patient is considered to be at
risk for harming himself or others, inpatient treatment is usually
recommended.
Antipsychotic medication such as thioridazine (Mellaril),
haloperidol (Haldol), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine
(Clozaril), sertindole (Serlect), olanzapine (Zyprexa), or
risperidone (Risperdal) is usually prescribed to bring psychotic
symptoms under control and into remission. Possible side effects of
antipsychotics include dry mouth, drowsiness, muscle stiffness, and
tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of the body).
Agranulocytosis, a potentially serious but reversible health
condition in which the white blood cells that fight infection in the
body are destroyed, is a possible side effect of clozapine. Patients
treated with this drug should undergo weekly blood tests to monitor
white blood cell counts for the first six months, then every two
weeks.
After an acute psychotic episode has subsided, antipsychotic drug
maintenance treatment is typically employed and psychosocial therapy
and living and vocational skills training may be attempted. |
|
|
| PSYCHOSIS RELATED ITEMS |
|
|
|
|
