Jake, a 45-year-old patient with schizophrenia, was recently hospitalized for acute psychosis due to medication noncompliance. He was treated with IM long-acting haloperidol. Besides monitoring his schizophrenia symptoms, the patient should be assessed by his primary care provider:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients with schizophrenia who are treated with long-acting haloperidol should be assessed for extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) using a validated tool such as Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) to monitor the development of tardive dyskinesia.

Answer: C 
 Monthly assessments are recommended to monitor the patient's tolerance to the haloperidol and any potential adverse effects.

Answer: A 
 Although weight gain is a common adverse effect associated with antipsychotic use, weight loss may also occur in some patients, particularly those with diabetes or those taking other medications that can cause weight loss. Therefore, monitoring for excessive weight loss is also important.

Answer: D 
 This statement is not true as primary care providers are often the first healthcare professionals to identify and intervene in mental health concerns of patients in their practice.

Jake, a 45-Year-Old Patient with Schizophrenia, Was Recently Hospitalized for Acute