Review the video Case Study Dev Cordoba. You will use this case as the basis of this Assignment. In this video, a Walden faculty member is assessing a mock patient
FOCUSED SOAP NOTE FOR ANXIETY, PTSD, AND OCD
In this Assignment, you use a case study to develop a focused SOAP note based on evidence-based approaches.
TO PREPARE
- Review this week’s Learning Resources. Consider the insights they provide about assessing and diagnosing anxiety, obsessive compulsive, and trauma-related disorders.
- Review the Focused SOAP Note template, which you will use to complete this Assignment. There is also a Focused SOAP Note Exemplar provided as a guide for Assignment expectations.
- Review the video Case Study Dev Cordoba
. You will use this case as the basis of this Assignment. In this video, a Walden faculty member is assessing a mock patient. The patient will be represented onscreen as an avatar. - Consider what history would be necessary to collect from this patient.
- Consider what interview questions you would need to ask this patient.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Develop a Focused SOAP Note, including your differential diagnosis and critical-thinking process to formulate a primary diagnosis. Incorporate the following into your responses in the template:
- Subjective: What details did the patient provide regarding their chief complaint and symptomology to derive your differential diagnosis? What is the duration and severity of their symptoms? How are their symptoms impacting their functioning in life?
- Objective: What observations did you make during the psychiatric assessment?
- Assessment: Discuss the patient’s mental status examination results. What were your differential diagnoses? Provide a minimum of three possible diagnoses with supporting evidence, listed in order from highest priority to lowest priority. Compare the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for each differential diagnosis and explain what DSM-5-TR criteria rules out the differential diagnosis to find an accurate diagnosis. Explain the critical-thinking process that led you to the primary diagnosis you selected. Include pertinent positives and pertinent negatives for the specific patient case.
- Plan: What is your plan for psychotherapy? What is your plan for treatment and management, including alternative therapies? Include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, alternative therapies, and follow-up parameters, as well as a rationale for this treatment and management plan. Also incorporate one health promotion activity and one patient education strategy.
- Reflection notes: What would you do differently with this patient if you could conduct the session again? Discuss what your next intervention would be if you could follow up with this patient.?Also include in your reflection a discussion related to legal/ethical considerations (demonstrate critical thinking beyond confidentiality and consent for treatment!), health promotion, and disease prevention, taking into consideration patient factors (such as age, ethnic group, etc.), PMH, and other risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic, cultural background, etc.).
- Provide at least three evidence-based, peer-reviewed journal articles or evidenced-based guidelines that relate to this case to support your diagnostics and differential diagnoses. Be sure they are current (no more than 5 years old).
Required Readings
- Boland, R. Verdiun, M. L. & Ruiz, P. (2022). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry (12th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
- Chapter 2, “Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Other Childhood Disorders”
- Section 2.8, “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders in Children” (pp. 167-173)
- Section 2.13, “Anxiety Disorders of Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence: Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)” (pp. 194-200”)
- Section 2.14, “Selective Mutism” (pp. 201-202)
- Section 2.15, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Childhood and Adolescence” (pp. 203-206)
- Chapter 8, “Anxiety Disorders”
- Chapter 9, “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders”
- Chapter 10, “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
- Chapter 2, “Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Other Childhood Disorders”
- Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (Eds.). (2015). Rutter’s child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Wiley Blackwell.
- Chapter 26, “Psychosocial Adversity”
- Chapter 27, “Resilience: Concepts, Findings, and Clinical Implications”
- Chapter 29, “Child Maltreatment”
- Chapter 30, Child Sexual Abuse”
- Chapter 58, “Disorders of Attachment and Social engagement Related to Deprivation”
- Chapter 59, “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”
- Zakhari, R. (2021). The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification review manual. Springer Publishing Company.
- Chapter 6, “Physical Assessment, Diagnostic Tests, and Differential Diagnosis”
- Chapter 12, “Anxiety Disorders”
Sample Expert Answer and Explanation
Focused SOAP Note for Anxiety, PTSD, and OCD
Subjective:
CC (chief complaint): “I feel worried all the time.”
HPI: Dev C., a 7-year-old male of Hispanic descent, is brought in by his mother for evaluation due to persistent anxiety, nightmares, and behavioral issues. He has never seen a mental health professional before. His current medications include DDVAP for bedwetting, which has not been effective. Dev has been experiencing significant worry about his family’s well-being, nightmares about being lost, and daytime anxiety affecting his school performance. He has a history of throwing objects when upset but has no history of self-harm. His mother reports he often expresses fears about her dying or not picking him up from school and claims she loves his baby brother more than him.
Substance Current Use: No current or past use of caffeine, nicotine, illicit substances, or alcohol.
Medical History:
- Current Medications: DDVAP (dosage and frequency not specified in the transcript, used for bedwetting).
- Allergies: None reported.
- Reproductive Hx: Not applicable.
ROS:
- GENERAL: Frequent headaches and stomachaches, recent weight loss of 3 pounds over three weeks.
- HEENT: No specific complaints reported.
- SKIN: No specific complaints reported.
- CARDIOVASCULAR: No specific complaints reported.
- RESPIRATORY: No specific complaints reported.
- GASTROINTESTINAL: Complaints of frequent stomachaches.
- GENITOURINARY: Bedwetting at night.
- NEUROLOGICAL: No specific complaints reported.
- MUSCULOSKELETAL: No specific complaints reported.
- HEMATOLOGIC: No specific complaints reported.
- LYMPHATICS: No specific complaints reported.
- ENDOCRINOLOGIC: No specific complaints reported.
Objective:
Diagnostic results:
- No labs, X-rays, or other diagnostics were performed or indicated in the transcript.
Assessment:
Mental Status Examination: Dev appears his stated age, dressed appropriately, and is cooperative throughout the interview. His mood is anxious, and his affect is congruent with his mood. Speech is normal in rate and volume. His thought processes are logical and goal-directed. He expresses worries about his mother’s safety and fears abandonment, indicative of separation anxiety. No hallucinations or delusions are reported. His cognition appears intact for his age, understanding the current date and location (Bitsko, 2022). Insight and judgment are limited but appropriate for his age. No suicidal or homicidal ideations are present.
Diagnostic Impression:
- Primary Diagnosis: Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) (F93.0)
- Rationale: Dev’s persistent and excessive worry about losing his mother and his difficulty being away from her align with SAD.
- Secondary Diagnosis: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (F43.1)
- Rationale: The traumatic loss of his father, persistent nightmares, and hypervigilance (worrying about his mother’s safety) suggest PTSD.
- Other Considerations: Enuresis (bedwetting) (F98.0), as reported by his mother.
Reflections: I agree with the preceptor’s assessment, as the patient’s symptoms and history strongly support the diagnoses of Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Boland et al., 2022). Dev exhibits clear signs of SAD, such as excessive worry about his mother’s safety and significant distress when separated from her. The history of his father’s death and the subsequent behavioral and emotional changes point to PTSD, evidenced by his recurrent nightmares, persistent anxiety, and hypervigilance.
This case identifies the critical need for addressing traumatic experiences early in a child’s life to mitigate long-term psychological impacts. Providing appropriate support and interventions for young patients experiencing significant anxiety and loss is essential (Thapar et al., 2015).
It ensures their emotional and psychological well-being and helps prevent the potential escalation of symptoms into more severe mental health issues as they grow. Interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and psychoeducation can play a vital role in helping children like Dev process their trauma, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build resilience..
Case Formulation and Treatment Plan:
Diagnostic Studies:
- Further psychological evaluation and possibly a referral to a child psychologist or psychiatrist for comprehensive assessment and therapy. This is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of Dev’s mental health status and to tailor the treatment plan effectively.
Therapeutic Interventions:
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focusing on anxiety management and trauma processing (Zakhari, 2021). CBT is evidence-based and can help Dev develop healthier thought patterns and coping mechanisms to manage his anxiety and trauma-related symptoms.
- Family Therapy: To help the mother support Dev and address family dynamics (Zakhari, 2021). Family involvement is essential as it provides a supportive environment and helps address any contributing factors within the family system.
- Psychoeducation: Educate the family on anxiety disorders and coping strategies (Zakhari, 2021). Knowledge empowers the family to understand Dev’s condition better and to support him effectively in his day-to-day life.
- School-based Interventions: Collaborate with school counselors to support Dev’s needs (Zakhari, 2021). Schools play a significant role in a child’s life, and having support in the educational environment can help Dev manage his symptoms and improve his academic performance.
Pharmacotherapy:
- Consider low-dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) if psychotherapy alone is insufficient. SSRIs can help regulate mood and anxiety levels, providing chemical support to therapy when needed to manage severe symptoms (Zakhari, 2021).
Education and Disposition:
- Educate the mother on creating a stable and supportive environment. A stable home environment is vital for Dev’s recovery and ongoing mental health, as it can significantly reduce stressors that exacerbate his symptoms (Fasinu & Wilborn, 2024).
- Regular follow-up visits to monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. Continuous monitoring ensures that the treatment is effective and allows for timely adjustments to address any emerging issues (Fasinu & Wilborn, 2024).
Planned Follow-up Visits:
- Initial follow-up in two weeks to assess response to interventions and make necessary adjustments. Early follow-up allows for quick identification of any issues with the initial treatment plan and helps in making necessary modifications to ensure the best outcomes for Dev (Fasinu & Wilborn, 2024).
References
Bitsko, R. H. (2022). Mental health surveillance among children—United States, 2013–2019. MMWR supplements, 71. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7102a1.htm
Boland, R. Verdiun, M. L. & Ruiz, P. (2022). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry (12th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Fasinu, P. S., & Wilborn, T. W. (2024). Pharmacology education in the medical curriculum: Challenges and opportunities for improvement. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 12(1), e1178. https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.1178
Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (Eds.). (2015). Rutter’s child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Wiley Blackwell.
Zakhari, R. (2021). The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification review manual. Springer Publishing Company.
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