Case Study:

https://cdn-media.waldenu.edu/2dett4d/Walden/NURS/6630/DT/week_05/index.html

Examine
 Case Study: A Middle-Aged Caucasian Man With Anxiety. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this patient. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

At each decision point, you should evaluate all options before selecting your decision and moving throughout the exercise. Before you make your decision, make sure that you have researched each option and that you evaluate the decision that you will select. Be sure to research each option using the primary literature.

Introduction to the case (1 page)

· Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.

Decision #1 (1 page)

· Which decision did you select?

· Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

· Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

· What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).

· Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.

Decision #2 (1 page)

· Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

· Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

· What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).

· Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.

Decision #3 (1 page)

· Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

· Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

· What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).

· Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.

Conclusion (1 page)

· Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

References:

· Stahl, S. M. (2021). Stahl's essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (5th Ed.) Cambridge University Press.

· Chapter 8,  “Anxiety, Trauma, and Treatment” (pp. 359-378)

· American Psychiatric Association. (2010a). 

Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder
Links to an external site.
. https://psychiatryonline.org/pb/assets/raw/sitewide/practice_guidelines/guidelines/acutestressdisorderptsd.pdf

· American Psychiatric Association. (2010c). 

Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with panic disorder
Links to an external site.
 (2nd ed.). https://psychiatryonline.org/pb/assets/raw/sitewide/practice_guidelines/guidelines/panicdisorder.pdf

As you learned from the chapter, reading, and video lectures, the cost of health care is a major concern in the US. As we discussed, value-based models promise to bend the cost curve in the right direction. The article you read by Erickson et al (2020) is mostly from the point of view of physicians so it is always a good idea to think critically about articles like this. Do you think that the authors present solid arguments in favor of what they propose? Do you think their point of view is similar to what you read and think about ways to decrease costs while increasing quality? Do you think that their point of view considers other health care-related professions?

Discussion Topic

Top of Form

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Choose one of the following case studies and answer the following questions. The information provided may not be sufficient but it is what is available for you to analyze and conceptualize how you might proceed with the following patients, Case Example A and Case Example B. After reviewing each vignette discuss with colleagues the following questions. There are no single correct answers to the questions, just different approaches to take.

1.In reviewing this chapter, which factors are important to consider for this patient?

2.What additional information would you like to have to be more comfortable in working with this patient?

3.How will you explain your diagnosis and treatment plan in relation to the patient presentation? What treatment options will you recommend and why?

4.What is your initial approach in negotiating treatment for this patient?

5.What medication changes would you want to discuss with the patient and how will you negotiate that with her or him?

6.What time frame do you propose for this plan, and how will you transition with the patient?

7.How will you coordinate care with the other providers working with this patient?

8.After stabilization, which psychotherapeutic approach would you take?

Post your initial response and on a different day respond to one student in your class. Both responses should be a minimum of 150 words, scholarly written, APA formatted, and referenced. A minimum of 2 references are required (other than your text).

CASE EXAMPLE A

Campus security was called to the dormitory to assess a 19-year-old man who barricaded himself in his room and covered the windows with aluminum foil. His roommate reported that this man hasn’t been attending classes for the past week, hasn’t bathed or eaten, and has been mumbling that the FBI is monitoring all his communications. Security removed the door and took the man into custody and to the community mental health center for evaluation.

History of current episode: Information obtained by interview with the patient and with collateral telephone interviews with each of his parents, his college roommate, and his English professors. This is the first year away from home for this young man, who has been described as an “odd and reserved” person since teen years. Academically he did well his first semester at college, although he has made few friends and does not participate in any social or extracurricular events. His teachers describe him as a bright and quiet student. His parents, who live in a small town over 70 miles away from the college, expressed sadness but not surprise at his behavioral deterioration because they didn’t expect him to be able to cope with the discrepancy of the large college campus compared to his small-town previous experience.

Psychiatric history: Although he has never been hospitalized or had outpatient psychiatric treatment, this young man has been showing signs of emotional and cognitive disorganization since his early teens. During his high school years the patient became more and more aloof, and strange with both his family and friends. At times he would be mute for days at a time, remained in his room and refused to bathe. He said he did not have control over his thoughts and he believed he was possessed. In his junior year of high school his counselor recommended he attend a breakout group to help him learn interpersonal skills and make friends, but he never attended. The summer before going to college his parents asked if he wanted to see a therapist or counselor to talk about transitions but he said he didn’t want to do that and that he wasn’t concerned about living away from his family for the first time.

Medical history: Has had regular preventive care and immunizations through local family practice. In good health, weight proportion to height, denies smoking or alcohol or drug consumption. Broke his left wrist at age 7 years when he fell off his bike. Moderate acne in late teens treated with oral doxycycline for several months. No drug or food allergies. Allergic reaction to bee sting when 10 years old with swelling, shortness of breath, now carries EpiPen.

Family history: Has an older brother, 23 years old, who graduated from college and is now attending graduate school in business administration. Younger sister is 15 years old and in good health. Father is a business executive, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) related to long-standing cigarette smoking. Mother is an Episcopal priest and is in good health. Maternal uncle died at age 49, diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Personal history: Normal pregnancy and uncomplicated childbirth. Was an active and creative child who enjoyed reading, art, and cooking with his mother and grandmother. Parents said he started to become reserved and shy in middle school for no apparent reason. By early teens he seemed socially inept, had few friends, and preferred solitary play. Never interested in romantic relationships or dating in high school and spent most of his time studying or reading fantasy novels. Seemed to be withdrawn and serious, although denied feeling sad, or depressed.

Trauma/abuse history: Mild bullying in middle school, otherwise no apparent trauma.

Mental status examination: Well groomed, neatly attired, cooperative. Polite without motor abnormalities or gait. Moderate eye contact when directly addressed. Alert, mildly sedated, oriented to time, place, person. Attentive during interview and provided accurate albeit minimal history that was corroborated by family members. Based on fund of knowledge seemed of average intelligence. Speech is normal rate and soft spoken and at times mumbled responses to questions. Stated that he hears a soft voice in his head that tells him to “be careful” but offered no other explanation of voices. Denied visual or other perceptual hallucinations. Thought processes are linear and coherent. Reports that he believes people talk about him behind his back and that he is being controlled by unseen forces. Refused to elaborate on these thoughts. Stated that he has never thought of killing himself or anyone else. Described his mood as “fine” and refused to elaborate. Affect is flat. Demonstrates impulse control and alludes to feeling like an automaton. Judgment is reasonable in terms of recognizing consequences of actions.

Current medications: No regularly prescribed medications. Given lorazepam 1.0 mg orally in urgent care when brought in by campus security because of his extreme agitation. Slept for an hour after administration while waiting to be interviewed.

Differential diagnosis: Brief Psychotic Disorder versus First Episode of Schizophrenia. The duration of the episode is greater than 1 day but uncertain if longer than 1 month, and no previous psychiatric hospitalization. Teen years are suggestive of prodromal period of schizophrenia that may be precipitated by stress of independence from family and college experience.

CASE EXAMPLE B

John B. is a 15-year-old man of Sudanese descent who resides with his mother, grandmother, 23-year-old brother, and his brother’s wife. They are all asylum seekers to the United States, having arrived from South Sudan 2 years prior to this. He is seen in this mental health clinic after discharge from an inpatient stay following a suicide attempt by hanging.

Brother found patient hanging by a rope tied to the clothes rod in the closet. Patient was cyanotic with slow pulse and taken to the hospital by ambulance. He was treated in the inpatient adolescent unit for 1 week and discharged to this clinic for an assessment and follow-up treatment. He reported that he has been feeling depressed “for as long as I can remember” with low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness and being a burden to his family, guilt, and self-hatred. He said he had been thinking about killing himself for several months and has been cutting on his arms in practicing for this. His brother came home from work unexpectedly to find him. He described not fitting in at school and not feeling comfortable in his new home. His brother arranged to bring his mother and grandmother to the United States to flee from the war. His brother was brought to the United States when he was 14 years old under the UNICEF program for rehabilitation of child soldiers, and believes the patient was being recruited to be a soldier before coming here. Patient sleeps less than 4 hours/night with frequent nightmares and refuses to sleep in bed, prefers to sleep under the bed. Has poor appetite. Teachers report he has difficulty concentrating in school and has to take frequent breaks to sit in quiet room with soft music. He has made few friends and gets into fights, both physical and verbal, with other boys. Easily upset by loud noises or changes in routine at school or at home.

Medical history: Patient has no known drug or food allergies. He was treated for malnutrition upon arrival to the United States and remains underweight. He was diagnosed with mild intermittent asthma, triggered by exercise and seasonal allergies. Physical exam also revealed several horizontal scars on the inner surfaces of his left forearm.

Substance use history: Denies alcohol or drug use.

Family history: Father died in war in South Sudan when patient was 4 years old. Raised by mother and maternal grandmother with older brother. Older sister killed in village raid when patient was 5 years old. Unknown paternal history. Mother is 42 years old with unknown health history.

Personal history: Full-term birth without known complications. Attended school intermittently in South Sudan due to civil war. Currently attending special school and mostly fluent in English. Has had behavioral problems in school due to inattentiveness, anger, poor impulse control, and low frustration tolerance. Mother and grandmother do not speak English and are unable to provide description of patient’s behavior at home. Brother works two jobs, as does brother’s wife.

Trauma history: Witnessed his sister and mother being raped and sister’s death. Possible torture prior to coming to United States.

Mental status examination: Thin, lanky young man with multiple scars on arms and back. Clean, casually attired with close-cropped hair. Cooperative and sullen during the assessment. Sits in chair with legs pulled up on the chair and gripping his knees with his arms. Makes moderate eye contact. Alert, oriented to time, place, and person. Memory not formally assessed but appears to be intact based on his ability to accurately relate details from his recent experience. Hypervigilant to the environment and interviewer’s behavior. Linear thinking with abstract reasoning and seems to be of average to above average intelligence based on fund of knowledge. Speech is soft with pronounced accent, regular rate and rhythm. Comprehends English sufficiently to not need interpreter. Thinking process is coherent and goal directed. Thought content is focused on distress of hospitalization. Acknowledges wanting to die but without current plan to kill self and feeling remorseful that he upset his family with his recent attempt. Described his current mood as scared and depressed. Affect is fearful, tearful, and angry. Impulsive previous behavior with poor judgment and belief in limited future. Insight is reasonable in terms of understanding why he is referred to treatment.

Current medications prescribed at last hospitalization:

1. Prazosin 5 mg bid for nightmares and daytime stress

2. Vortioxetine 10 mg daily for depression and anxiety

3. Fluticasone-salmeterol inhaler qd for asthma

4. Theophylline 300 mg qd for asthma

Differential diagnosis: Major depressive disorder with suicidal thinking. Posttraumatic stress disorder.

Bottom of Form

 

What type of drug should you prescribe based on your patient’s diagnosis? How much of the drug should the patient receive? How often should the drug be administered? When should the drug not be prescribed? Are there individual patient factors that could create complications when taking the drug? Should you be prescribing drugs to this patient? How might different state regulations affect the prescribing of this drug to this patient?

These are some of the questions you might consider when selecting a treatment plan for a patient.

As an advanced practice nurse prescribing drugs, you are held accountable for people’s lives every day. Patients and their families will often place trust in you because of your position. With this trust comes power and responsibility, as well as an ethical and legal obligation to “do no harm.” It is important that you are aware of current professional, legal, and ethical standards for advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the treatment plans and administration/prescribing of drugs is in accordance with the regulations of the state in which you practice. Understanding how these regulations may affect the prescribing of certain drugs in different states may have a significant impact on your patient’s treatment plan. In this Assignment, you explore ethical and legal implications of scenarios and consider how to appropriately respond.