Case Management in Patient with Incarcerated Schizophrenia in Community at Chomthong Distrct, Chiang Mai Province: case study

Abstract

              Schizophrenia is a common and but the most severe form of mental disorder which becomes a significant public health problem in Thailand. People who suffered from this chronic debilitation and relapsing disorder would eventually cut off from living normal life. Given both of its positive and negative symptoms, the positive symptoms cause more problem in caring of the patient due to their disturbing and violent nature so some care givers, in order to prevent harm, have no other choice but incarcerating the patent and give no medical treatment. Under such condition, the was patient deprived of proper treatment and rehabilitation that may lead to recover to live normal life. This case study aims to examine the application of case management in caring of such patient in terms of problem and obstacle, was well as solution. A case of incarcerated schizophrenic was male, age 46 years, was selected and received care by the process of case management during November 2006 to November 2007. The process of case management consisted of 4 stages namely 1)selecting the case suitable for the study purpose 2)assessment and analysis of need of the patient and family 3)planning for the treatment activities, coordinating with multidisciplinary team in providing care for the patient and family and 4)evaluating the outcome both from the patient and family as well as care team. The result of this study showed that the patient improved, can recover and resume to live normal life, has social skill, take care of himself and is accepted, with much satisfaction, by family and community members. Thus case management should be an effective method for caring of the other severe chronic schizophrenic patient by community hospital.