As a registered dietitian intervened in the regular masticatory exercises for one female schizophrenic patient who had problems with eating and swallowing such as swallowing whole, fast eating speed, and stuffing herself with food, her nutritional status, time spent on eating and swallowing, mastication frequency at mealtimes, and changes in meal satisfaction level were examined. Fifteen minutes of tongue and masticatory exercises using food products were performed before lunch 3 times a week for 3 months, and each item was measured at the start, in the 4th week, the 8th week, and the 12th week. As for nutritional status, albumin levels increased from 3.6g/dL (at the start) to 4.0g/dL (in the 12th week) while GNRI increased from 90 to 96. Although time spent on eating and swallowing and mastication frequency increased sharply in the 4th week compared with the start, there were slight increases after that. There was no change in the meal satisfaction level on interview, but Face Scale during mealtimes scored 5 points (smiling face, lifting up both corners of the mouth, and opening mouth) in the 12th week from 1 point (showing no emotion, bending both corners of the mouth) at the start. Masticatory exercise has led the schizophrenic patient to be conscious of chewing, resulting in spending a longer time on eating and swallowing and increasing mastication frequency. Thus, it might have improved her nutritional status.

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