Saliva secretion disorder in a schizophrenic patient - a problem in dental and psychiatric treatment: a case report

OBJECTIVE: Saliva secretion disorder may appear in patients at any age and represents a serious problem in interdisciplinary treatment. It is manifested by hyposecretion or hypersecretion of saliva. One of the major groups of patients who have been diagnosed with saliva secretion disorder includes those treated with neuroleptics. Among patients taking neuroleptics, schizophrenic patients represent the least cooperative group in terms of doctor-patient relationship. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder exacerbated by uncontrolled neuroleptic dose reduction or regardless of applied pharmacotherapy. METHOD: This paper presents a clinical case of a 30-year-old schizophrenic patient with saliva secretion problems. RESULTS: In schizophrenia, thought disorders (TD) and social functioning impairment have a negative impact on patients’ somatic health care. Saliva hyposecretion and its health consequences, such as parodontitis and caries, are the reasons why the patients decide to have a dental appointment. CONCLUSION: This paper contains important information for dentists, psychiatrists, and psychologists, as it raises an issue of a proper interdisciplinary care approach provided to schizophrenic patients. It emphasises the importance of psychoeducation and draws attention to social functioning of mentally ill patients.