A patient attends outpatient programs at a community mental health center and meets with the primary nurse regularly. Last week, the patient's haloperidol (Haldol) dose was reduced from 5 mg to 2 mg daily to decrease side effects. The nurse will need to monitor changes in:

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It will be necessary for the nurse to assess for exacerbation of the patient's symptoms of psychosis as well as for an amelioration of side effects. Dosage decrease might lead to the return or worsening of positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, and negative symptoms such as blunted affect, social withdrawal, and poor grooming.

A Patient Attends Outpatient Programs at a Community Mental Health