Post a brief explanation of the psychological disorder presented and the decision steps you applied in completing the interactive media
Decision Making When Treating Psychological Disorders
Psychological disorders, such as depression, bipolar, and anxiety disorders can present several complications for patients of all ages. These disorders affect patients physically and emotionally, potentially impacting judgment, school and/or job performance, and relationships with family and friends. Since these disorders have many drastic effects on patients’ lives, it is important for advanced practice nurses to effectively manage patient care. With patient factors and medical history in mind, it is the advanced practice nurse’s responsibility to ensure the safe and effective diagnosis, treatment, and education of patients with psychological disorders.
For this Discussion, you will select an interactive media piece to practice decision making when treating patients with psychological disorders. You will recommend the most effective pharmacotherapeutic to treat the psychological disorder presented and examine potential impacts of pharmacotherapeutics on a patient’s pathophysiology.
To Prepare
· Review this week’s interactive media pieces and select one to focus on for this Discussion.
· Reflect on the decision steps in the interactive media pieces, and consider the potential impacts from the administration of the associated pharmacotherapeutics on the patient’s pathophysiology.
- Post a brief explanation of the psychological disorder presented and the decision steps you applied in completing the interactive media piece for the psychological disorder you selected.
- Then, explain how the administration of the associated pharmacotherapeutics you recommended may impact the patient’s pathophysiology.
- How might these potential impacts inform how you would suggest treatment plans for this patient?
- Be specific and provide examples.
Expert Answer and Explanation
Brief Explanation of the Psychological Disorder and the Decision Steps Applied in Completing the Interactive Media Piece for the Disorder
Depression is one of the common mood disorders in which the affected patient has feels extreme sadness or emotional emptiness as a result of changes in their brain chemistry (Costantino, 2019). A 70 y.o. male pt. presents to the facility with complaints of depression and minor physical complaints of stiff shoulders, which he attributes to the fact that he works in a warehouse as a laborer doing heavy jobs. The subjective data indicates the presence of childhood abuse from peers, weight gain and insomnia.
In the mental status exam, he does not make direct eye contact, and has a depression score of 51, indicating severe depression. In decision point one, the patient is given Zoloft 25mg daily, decision point 2 includes a decrease of dosage to 25mg orally daily, and decision point three entails an increase of the dosage of the same drug to 25mg orally daily.
How the Administration of the Associated Pharmacotherapeutics Recommended May Impact the Patient’s Pathophysiology
The first administration of the drug contributes to the return of the patient in four weeks, a 25% decrease in the symptoms, but also leads to the development of a new disorder, erectile dysfunction. After decreasing the dosage by half, the ED subsides but the depressive symptoms still worsen (Buck et al., 2019). An increase in the dosage to the initial amount does not lead to any better situation, but the patient should be ready to change to another drug if the ED returns.
How the Potential Impacts Inform Me How I Would Suggest Treatment Plans
The potential impacts of the drugs show how adopting various lines of treatment plans may affect the patient. Since the patient is 70 years and may not have regular sex, it could be appropriate to take up the option of the Zoloft 25mg daily orally with the side effects of erectile dysfunction, as the effects would not be much on the life of the patient (Potter, 2019). However, I would include, in the treatment plan, a discussion with the patient, about the suitability of other drugs such as Paxil 20mg daily in the second level of treatment, which could have relatively lesser side effects while maintaining the reduction in the depression levels.
References
Buck, K., Zekri, S., Nguyen, L., & Ogar, U. J. (2019). Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Postpartum Depression. American family physician, 100(4), 244-245.
Costantino, C. (2019). Does Sertraline Decrease Depression In Patients Who Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Potter, D. R. (2019). Major Depression Disorder in Adults: A Review of Antidepressants. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 12(3), 1936.
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