Question

John Paul is a dual-diagnosed client with ID and schizophrenia. He is sitting in the living room watching TV; he starts slapping his face and yelling. He is slapping himself, causing his face to become very red. The psych tech performs what intervention?

A. Ignore John Paul's behavior.
B. Physically restrain John Paul.
C. Redirect John Paul to a calming activity.
D. Administer sedative medication.

Answer 1

The most appropriate intervention for John Paul, who has ID and schizophrenia and is self-harming, is to redirect him to a calming activity. This non-invasive approach helps deescalate the situation without immediate resort to medication or restraint.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario described, the most appropriate intervention for John Paul, who is dual-diagnosed with Intellectual Disability (ID) and schizophrenia and is exhibiting self-harming behavior by slapping himself and yelling, would be option C, which is to redirect John Paul to a calming activity. Redirecting him can help in deescalating the situation without the need for sedatives, which may produce side effects such as drowsiness and diminished emotional expression. Considering the side effects of neuroleptic drugs, which include reduced initiative, reduced displays of emotion, and at ordinary doses, no ataxia, incoordination, or dysarthria, redirecting to a calming activity is a non-invasive first step that can be beneficial. Physical restraint should be a last resort, only to be used when there is an immediate risk of harm and should follow proper protocols, and sedative medication should be administered only when prescribed and deemed necessary by a medical professional.