Improving Medication Compliance in Psychiatric Patients

 Improving Medication Compliance

Mnemonic: Informed Decision Activated Concerning Schizophrenia. 

1. We should give Information before starting the medications. This should include the name, mechanism of action, effects, and side effects of the drugs. 
2. The patient should actively take part in the decision, and he should actively discuss the information with the clinician. 
3. At each visit, the clinician should ask the patient should if they have any CONCERNS or questions about the drug which he should address. 
4. Family therapy for SCHIZOPHRENIA. 

Neuropsychiatric manifestations of Parkinson's disease

Mental state findings:

• Mood: depression, mania, apathy


• Cognitions: cognitive decline 


• Thoughts: delusions


• Perceptions: hallucinations, cheifly visual. 


• Appearance and behavior : stupor 

Conditions /Disorders:

• REM sleep behavior disorder 


• Sexual dysfunction 


• Mania


• Depression


• Delirium 


• Impulse control disorders

Features suggestive of vascular dementia against dementia of Alzheimer type

The following features suggest vascular dementia

• Patchy deficits


• Better free recall


• Fewer recall intrusions


• Early apathy


• Poor verbal fluency


• Vascular risk factors


• Relative preservation of personality


• Neurological signs e.g pseudobulbar palsy, brisk reflexes


• Erratic progression


• Signs of hypertension and arteriolocsclerosis on physical examination 

The Hatchinski ischemic score is used to differentiate between the two. score above 6 suggests vascular dementia and below 5 suggestive dementia of Alzheimer type.