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A 58-Year-Old Man with a Long-Standing Diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder

question 180

Multiple Choice

A 58-year-old man with a long-standing diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is brought to the emergency department for acute change in mental status. He lives in a group home and was assigned a new roommate 2 weeks earlier; the staff reports that the patient has become increasingly paranoid and agitated since then. His antipsychotic medication was changed from quetiapine to fluphenazine last week, but his behavior did not improve despite increasing dosages. The patient's other medications include a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and acetaminophen. Over the past several days, he developed a fever and has become increasingly confused.
On arrival, the patient's temperature is 40.0 C (104 F) , blood pressure is 170/110 mm Hg, pulse is 115/min, and respirations are 22/min. The patient is diaphoretic, and examination shows diffuse rigidity. There is no evidence of infection. He is disoriented to place and time.
Laboratory evaluation shows leukocytes 11,500/mm³ and creatine kinase 3,500 U/L. Urinalysis is unremarkable.
In addition to supportive measures, which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management of this patient?

Definitions:

Units-Of-Output

A depreciation method that allocates the cost of an asset based on the number of units it produces.

Straight-Line

A method of calculating depreciation of an asset by evenly spreading the cost over its useful life.

Depreciable Cost

The total cost of an asset that is subject to depreciation, which includes the purchase price, import duties, transport costs, installation charges, and other expenses, less its salvage value.

Straight-Line Rate

A method of calculating depreciation expense for an asset, spreading its cost evenly over its estimated useful life.