Basic Symptoms During Acute Schizophrenia : a Case Report

• Main Author: Polese, Daniela
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Morressier 01.01.2017
• DOI: 10.26226/morressier.5d1a036d57558b317a13fdf2

INTRODUCTION: Basic Symptoms (BSs) are subjective abnormalities preceding psychotic onset, which tend to persist, waxing and waning across the phases of the psychosis and are detectable with thorough interviews or self-rated questionnaires. BSs are not focused upon in current practice and might go undetected. This is unfortunate, as BSs may predict psychotic outcome and allow early intervention.CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old man who was living with his mother, developed psychosis after his fatheru2019s death 13 years ago. He received low-dose risperidone for three years, showing some improvement, but discontinued and developed stereotypies; thereafter he developed social withdrawal and suspiciousness about his neighbours. During the last five years he reported reference ideas, peaking during the last year, with steadily increasing stereotypies that became unbearable. When referring to our service, besides psychotic symptoms, he displayed cognitive BSs, especially anomalies of cognitive, perceptual and motor experience. We prescribed 10 mg/day aripiprazole, 2 mg/day risperidone, and 1.5 mg/day clonazepam.DISCUSSION: Our patient reported BSs when properly questioned. Using a structured interview allowed us to identify them; these symptoms are linked to the patientu2019s background structure, thus allowing us to predict outcome. Currently, BSs are not the object of study in everyday psychiatric practice. This prevents clinicians from seeing some of the facets of psychotic disorders that may unravel undiscovered folds of the individual patientu2019s structure and allow more effective personalised approaches. BS assessment should be included in evaluating patients suspected for or affected by psychosis, no matter how long they have been diagnosed.