Psychotic Disorders no. 4073

Psychotic Disorders no. 4073

QUESTION: A client has been receiving chlorpromazine (Thorazine), an antipsychotic, to treat his psychosis. Which findings should alert the nurse that the client is experiencing pseudoparkinsonism?

✘O a.) Restlessness, difficulty sitting still, and pacing
✘O b.) Involuntary rolling of the eyes
✓O c.) Tremors, shuffling gait, and masklike face
✘O d.) Extremity and neck spasms, facial grimacing, and jerky movements

RATIONALE

RATIONALE: Pseudoparkinsonism may appear 1 to 5 days after starting an antipsychotic and may also include drooling, rigidity, and "pill rolling." Akathisia may occur several weeks after starting antipsychotic therapy and consists of restlessness, difficulty sitting still, and fidgeting. An oculogyric crisis is recognized by uncontrollable rolling back of the eyes and, along with dystonia, should be considered an emergency. Dystonia may occur minutes to hours after receiving an antipsychotic and may include extremity and neck spasms, jerky muscle movements, and facial grimacing.
NURSING PROCESS STEP: Assessment
CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Physiological integrity
CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Comprehension