Andrea Yates Essay Example

to the brink of a mental breakdown. In 1999, the stress of caring for her Alzheimer's and heart attack-suffering father while raising four children alone resulted in two suicide attempts. The first occurred after the birth of her fourth child when she overdosed on sleeping pills that belonged to her father.

Her medical records reveal that at the time of her admission in June 1999, she presented with mutism, had a flat affect, and was exhibiting symptoms such as refusing to eat, being suspicious of others, and scratching at her head to the extent of developing a bald spot. She disclosed that she resorted to picking at her scalp because she believed that the number 666, symbolizing the Antichrist, was imprinted on it. During her second episode, she held a knife against her throat citing voices that instructed her to do so. The patient expressed her fear of causing harm to others. (Texas v. Yates; McLellan)

Initially, a voice was heard and subsequently an image of a knife appeared in my mind. The vision persisted and entailed obtaining a knife, followed by the person being stabbed.

After the Texas v. Yates case, Andrea suffered from negative outcomes and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. She was then admitted to a psychiatric unit where her psychiatrist identified her as severely depressed and non-verbal after she declined medication. This led to her discontinuing breastfeeding and being prescribed Zoloft.

After being released, Andrea was given Zyprexa by a new psychiatrist. However, she decided to discard the medication in the toilet. This led to another episode and treatment involving Haldol injections from a different doctor. Although her out-patient physician prescribed Ativan

for her, Andrea chose not to use it. Due to the effectiveness of Haldol, she was warned about the potential danger of experiencing additional psychotic episodes if she were to become pregnant and then discharged from care.

Zoloft, a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is utilized as an antidepressant to manage diverse mental health conditions like depression, panic, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It restores chemical imbalances in the brain that give rise to these ailments and proves effective for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (as reported by Cerner). Biochemical imbalances that hinder neurotransmitter communication in the brain are responsible for depressive symptoms.

Zoloft enhances the brain's electrical signal processing by impacting serotonin neurotransmitters, thereby enhancing depression symptoms. In contrast, Zyprexa is an antipsychotic that targets a range of dopamine and serotonin receptors to alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia. Its potency in inhibiting serotonin receptors surpasses its effectiveness in blocking dopamine receptors.

Ativan and Haldol have distinct medicinal purposes. Ativan is used for anxiety treatment, elevating gamma-aminobutyric acid activity to mitigate mental and physical overstimulation. Alternatively, Haldol is prescribed for psychotic disorders by hindering or diminishing dopamine effects in the brain. Despite her doctor's counsel, Andrea became pregnant with her final child and discontinued medication usage; however, she was stable until her father's death in 2001.

Andrea experienced severe symptoms such as pulling her own hair, self-mutilation, and delusions of being monitored by cameras and hearing voices from TV characters. Despite receiving limited Haldol treatment at a different hospital, a psychiatrist did not continue treatment due to a belief that Andrea was not mentally ill. Although advised to have positive thoughts and see a psychologist, Andrea's hereditary mental illness ultimately

led to the tragic outcome of killing her own children.

Andreas attributed the corruption of her children to Satan as a result of her mental illness, ultimately leading to their demise. Her lack of emotional response and desire for death stemmed from the belief that it would eradicate Satan. The long-standing illness was exacerbated by an oppressive marriage, repeated pregnancies, and insufficient medical attention. While genetics may have been a factor, appropriate medication could have mitigated symptoms with proper administration.

Despite the positive impact of Haldol on her condition, she opted to discontinue its use. Had she remained hospitalized for observation instead of being released after a brief stay, there may have been a chance for recovery from her serious illness. Tragically, this affliction not only disrupted her own life but also those of her five children. Andrea currently resides in a mental institution where she will receive ongoing medical attention until the end of her days.