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Symptoms or side effects? Methodological hazards and therapeutic principles
Author(s) -
Sharp Helen M.,
Healy David,
Fear Christopher F.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(1998100)13:7<467::aid-hup21>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - anxiety , psychology , psychotherapist , interview , compliance (psychology) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , psychosis , social psychology , political science , law
The case is described of a 40 year old man with delusions and hallucinations, who at the start of this study was taking doses of neuroleptic medication greatly in excess of those that have been demonstrated to be optimally effective. Over 48 weeks, using PQ methods and detailed interviewing, his progress was charted as the medication was reduced to more appropriate levels. Across this change, his delusional beliefs remained unchanged, but there were substantial reductions in auditory hallucinations, as well as in hopelessness and anxiety. The case has implications for concepts of therapy in the psychoses and for the methodology of therapy studies. It also illustrates possible benefits of using PQ or other self‐assessment methods as a means of calibrating therapy and perhaps enhancing compliance. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.