Nursing care over a patient hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia

Abstract

Background. Schizophrenia is a chronic, recurrent mental disorder. It is a disease that efects mainly young people, it starts between 20–30 years of age. The most common form is paranoid schizophrenia, in which there are mainly productive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. A person suffering from paranoid schizophrenia does not necessarily appear to be mentally ill until they experience paranoid symptoms. Objectives. To show nursing problems in a patient suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Material and methods. Nursing care was provided to a 25-year-old man who was taken to an emergency psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Information about him was obtained through the analysis of medical records, careful observation of the patient and an interview with the man and family. Results. Nursing problems that occur in a patient suffering from paranoid schizophrenia are manifested as: the occurrence of hallucinations and delusions, aggressive behavior, withdrawal from social contacts, slowdown of movement makes the daily functioning harder, and side effects of antipsychotic drugs (muscle stiffness). Conclusions. A patient with paranoid schizophrenia requires holistic and comprehensive care, This means that the patient is under overall supervision. This applies to the psychophysical field, also taking into account the environment in which it operates. The treatment is for the patient as a whole, not just the disorder.