Case Study John Nash is a 22-year-old patient suffering from schizophrenia. His condition started developing at the onset of adolescence. He is socially withdrawn, depressed, suspicious, and forgetful, experiences hallucinations and has suicidal thoughts. John has been hospitalized once and is currently on aripiprazole medication. Treatment and Management of Schizophrenia Based on the case study above, this paper will develop Johns’ clinical psychology medical intervention. Studies indicate that the treatment and management of schizophrenia mainly depends on a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions (Leucht et al., 2012, Harrow & Jobe, 2013). Pharmacological Intervention The primary treatment of schizophrenia would be the use of antipsychotic medications that reduce positive symptoms of psychosis within one to two weeks (Smith, Weston, & Lieberman, 2010). Antipsychotic drugs have been in use since mid-1950’s, and are well known for symptoms reduction. In addition, antipsychotics improve a patients’ quality of life and enable them enjoy an improved look. Studies conducted reveal that, continuous use of antipsychotic medication decreases the risk of relapse (Leucht et al., 2012, Harrow & Jobe, 2013). Trained and experienced physicians, based on individual symptoms and degree of sickness, mainly give dosage and medication. For John’s case, clozapine depot injections would be recommended. Clozapine has proved to be the best antipsychotic medication in people with recurring symptoms. (Essali, Al-Haj Haasan, Li, & Rathbone, 2009). Furthermore, clozapine reduces suicidal feelings in schizophrenics. Normally, a trained medical personnel or a nurse gives an injection. As a rule, the first injection is given a small dose to ensure that side effects do not occur. If there are no side effects, the patient can start having higher doses at regular bi-weekly intervals. This intervention can be conducted at home by a visiting nurse, at a community mental health center or at a General Practitioner’s office. The use of clozapine is a medical intervention that targets the biological functioning of patients by blocking serotonin receptors and thus bringing about the release of dopamine receptors in specific parts of the brain. Consequently, motor side effects are reduced, and cognitive and affective symptoms improved. In addition, clozapine blocks dopamine receptors, hence, reducing positive symptoms of psychosis. Psychosocial Intervention According to the National Institute of Mental Health (n.d.), patients with schizophrenia may be free of psychotic symptoms, but “many still have extraordinary difficulty with communication…and establishing and maintaining relationships with others” (par. 2). As a result, most of the patients have emotional problems and lack important social skills required to integrate with other people in the society. Based on the reasons identified by the National Institute of Mental Health, these social, occupation and psychological problems require psychosocial treatment that may be useful to patients with mild symptoms. Johns’ case that guides this study reveals a mixture of emotional and social problems that can be treated using psychosocial interventions. In order to focus on a patients’ social functioning, most medical practi