An atypical progression of schizophrenia in an elderly woman

Abstract

An 81-year-old woman with known schizophrenia presented to the psychiatric consult service with an acute exacerbation of tactile and visual hallucinations and paranoid delusions. This case report examines an atypical progression of illness, including the patient’s unusually high functional status and maintenance of activities of daily living well into her disease course despite persistent positive symptoms, highlighting potential benefits of early pharmacological treatment and lifestyle choices.

Keywords:

• Atypical antipsychotics
• elderly
• paranoid delusions
• schizophrenia
• tactile hallucinations
• visual hallucinations

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the patient in this study and her network of family members and caregivers who supported her treatment. They would also like to thank all of the nurses, counselors, doctors, and clinic staff who worked with this patient.