BCCO PCT #4 PowerPoint AND Intermediate CIT Course TCOLE Course # 3841 Texas Commission On Law Enforcement UNIT FOUR

4.0 Psychopharmacology & Side Effects in Persons with Mental Illness

Medications treatmentmental illness Medications can be an effective treatment for mental illness. cure controlimprove copingskills While it is not a cure, they are used to control symptoms and improve coping skills, which can then help reduce the severity of the mental illness.

psychiatric medications mental illness rest of their lives Most individuals who are on psychiatric medications for mental illness will continue taking them for the rest of their lives. 4.0 Psychopharmacology & Side Effects in Persons with Mental Illness – Cont’d

4.1 Four Categories of Medications used to control Mental Illness 1. Anti-psychotic Thorazine 1. Anti-psychotic ( Thorazine, Mellaril, Haldol) controls hallucinations (e.g., schizophrenia)

2. Antidepressants Prozac 2. Antidepressants (Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft) control feelings of sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts (e.g., depression) 4.1 Four Categories of Medications used to control Mental Illness

3. Mood stabilizers Tegratol LithiumDepakote 3. Mood stabilizers ( Tegratol, Lithium, Depakote ) control mood swings (e.g., bipolar disorder) 4.1 Four Categories of Medications used to control Mental Illness

4. Anti-anxiety drugs Xanax Valium 4. Anti-anxiety drugs ( Xanax, Valium, Buspar) 4.1 Four Categories of Medications used to control Mental Illness

Old vs. new drugs significantly fewer side effects indigent Old vs. new drugs - new drugs have significantly fewer side effects, but old drugs are still used today, especially with the indigent (due to lower costs)

PURE BS

4.2 Side Effects from Psychotropic Medications uncomfortable  Can be uncomfortable dehumanizing  Can be dehumanizing irreversible  Are often irreversible, which may cause person to refuse to take them as directed

spasms  muscle spasms, tongue  protruding tongue,  eyes  eyes rolled back, leg  constant leg movement,  tremors  tremors, 4.2 Side Effects from Psychotropic Medications EXAMPLES

movements  uncoordinated movements,  impotence  impotence,  nausea  nausea,  headache  headache, 4.2 Side Effects from Psychotropic Medications EXAMPLES….Cont’d

vision  blurred vision  weight  weight gain,  fatigue  fatigue, toxicity  liver toxicity 4.2 Side Effects from Psychotropic Medications EXAMPLES….Cont’d

permanent As noted, some of these side effects are permanent, medications even after the medications have been stopped, neurological damage due to the medications tendency to effect neurological damage 4.2 Side Effects from Psychotropic Medications SIDE EFFECTS

lethalexcess Many of these medications are also lethal when taken in excess. mentally ill remembering Careful monitoring is necessary due to many mentally ill consumer symptoms include disorganization and difficulty remembering. 4.2 Side Effects from Psychotropic Medications SIDE EFFECTS….Cont’d

4.3 OLD vs. NEW Medications Haldol negative side effects There is an “old” class of drugs, such as Haldol, that have some very negative side effects, such as  severe sedation,  possible impotence, etc.

drugs disease fewer side effects There is also a “new” class of drugs that treat the disease much better and have fewer side effects. drugs The “older” drugs are still in use today 4.3 OLD vs. NEW Medications…Cont’d

medications prevalent usage jail It is important to be familiar with the older medications, due to their more prevalent usage with the indigent and jail populations. antipsychotic medicationscostly The newer antipsychotic medications are more costly. 4.3 OLD vs. NEW Medications…Cont’d

4.4 Three Primary Reasons why Mental Persons do not take prescribed medications continuous problem for law enforcement not adhering to their medication regimen A continuous problem for law enforcement is mental health consumers not adhering to their medication regimen. deviation crisis This deviation is the primary cause of crisis concerns.

FOOD for THOUGHT How many of you have been prescribed medications by a doctor and did not take them for whatever reason? What was the effect of not taking them?

Common reasons for deviating from a drug schedule Common reasons for deviating from a drug schedule: side effects  Nasty side effects stigma they don’t want people to know they have a mental illness  The stigma associated with being mentally ill, i.e., they don’t want people to know they have a mental illness 4.3 OLD vs. NEW Medications…Cont’d

Common reasons for deviating from a drug schedule Common reasons for deviating from a drug schedule: feelingbetter think they no longer need the medications  They start feeling better and think they no longer need the medications 4.3 OLD vs. NEW Medications…Cont’d

RIGHT TO REFUSE A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to a patient who refuses to take the medication voluntarily

Unless the patient is in need of a medication related to an emergency, or the patient is under an order authorizing the administration of the medication regardless of the patient’s refusal. RIGHT TO REFUSE - Cont’d

QUESTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS Would you want to take these medications? Is the treatment worse than the illness?

Discuss “old” vs. “new” medications.

RHETORICAL QUESTIONS Is this guy on the lawn mower playing with a full deck? Based on your observations do you think he is suffering from a mental illness? Back up may have kept this from escalating!

Questions?

31 DEFINE & PROCESS Process: Define 7.0: Define 7.0: Explain the key points – elements for Human Trafficking Investigation

SOURCES All Course Sources and/or Resources are listed in your Participant Handout Bexar County Constable Office PCT#4 Crisis Intervention TRAINING (CIT) Course # 3841

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