Monitoring patients' medication is difficult, March 23, 2001

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  • 8/9/2019 Monitoring patients' medication is difficult, March 23, 2001

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    I\lIr Charma.ine Smith

    InliepsD.CJent-MailPENDLETON . - Psychiat rists at amental health facility in Columbiabegan mental evaluations Thursday onBrian Curtis Sheridan, who is chargedwith murder in the Wednesday stabbingdeath of a 67-year-old Pendleton woman.Mr. Sheridan, 42, was arrestedafter police tothat a rmdp man had EarlieLee to death after she

    outside her F4 - forbeating her car ""ith a baseball bat.Results from Ms. Lee's autopsy, whichwas .conducted Thursday, showed shewas stabbed more than three dozentimes in the neck, face, chest and back,Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore"She had wounds that vilouldhave meant i r ~ $ ! a n t death had it beenhe said.Two - a switchbladeand a larger knife were recovered at

    and collecting evidence at Mr. Sheridan'sNo. lI2 apartment, whichhad been turneddown during the ramBrian page, Pendleton PoliceSheridan Chief Ken Arthur said.Witll Mr. Sheridan's belongmurdAr ings, including dishes,stereo equipment andclothes, had been scattered all throughthe small apartment. A standing air contioning un it also had been ripped fromthe wall, the chief said.

    ofevidence willthis weekhe s a t d ~ can do.Please see .:1OLbiUmUlJ 5A

    tedts' icult

    KeHyDavis One problem is that, like manyIndependentMail drugs, they may have unpleasantside effects, the Anderson-OconeeBrian CUliis Sheridan's state Pickens Mental Health Centerment that he stopped taking hls counselor said.medication before his arrest

    The drugs may cause severe dryWednesday in the fatal stabbing of mouth, sluggishness, drowsiness,a Pendleton grandmother brings to weight gain, restlessness or the jitthe forefront a difficult problem ters, she said.mental health professionals face. "They just feel like something'sPsychotropic drugs drugs that going to happen, and they don'taffect chemical disorders in the know what," Ms. Taylor said of thehrain such as schhophrenia, bipo latter two effects.lar dhmrder, depression or anxietyare now very effective, but for a "Another thing that's veryof reasons, it is difficult to to most folks issome patients on them, psy decreased libido," she said. Mennurse and counselorPriscilla Tavlor said. Please see Patients', 5A

  • 8/9/2019 Monitoring patients' medication is difficult, March 23, 2001

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    nts'se'titor

    From lAand women may lose the abilito achieve orgasm, and menmay sufIer impotence.Psychiatric patients aretold to consult their therapistor counselor if they want toget off their medication, butsome feel so confident theyare cured they fail to reportin, Ms. Taylor said.Another complication issubstance abuse. Mentally il laddicts often will stop takingtheir medicine when theywant to indulge."Some will go back on afterthey're finished, but somewon't," Ms. Taylor said.While the overall mentallyi l l population is no more violent or criminally inclinedthan the general population,mentally ill addicts do have ahigher tendency toward violence and crime, according tothe U.S. Surgeon General'soffice.The state's Mental HealthCenters make regularappointments with patientstaldrrg psychotropic medica-Ms. Taylor said.

    The frequency variesaccording to the patient's histor':. but thev are nevermandatory unless a patienthas repeated problems. Evenso. when clients don't show. social 'workers try toup on Ms. Taylorsaid."We can't make folks taketheir medication unless i t ismandated through the court."she said. "And people haverights."