Research Article that support the use of medication for the
Treatment of Depressive
Disorders
and another Article supports the use of
psychotherapy for Depressive Disorders.
This paper needs to have these 3 parts:
A) Disorder
B) Medication
C) Treatment
Then these 3 category need to be on the research:
1) Summarize the Author’s findings in your own words
2) Compare the outcomes for these two treatment methods. What are the strength and weakness of each
3) Based what you learned, what treatment would you recommend for a person who has a Depressive Disorder?
4) Case studies and evaluate the person’s treatment plans. Would you make any treatment changes, based on what you learned from your research? Why and why not? Would you recommend these medications on base of this case study, what is the side effect?
Case study scenario
Worthless Wife.
Connie Russo, a 33-year-old homemaker and mother of a 4-year-old son, Anthony, is referred by her general practitioner to a psychiatric outpatient program because of her complaint that she has been depressed and unable to concentrate since she separated from her husband 3 months previously. Ms. Russo left her husband Vincent after a 5-year marriage. Violent arguments between them, during which Ms. Russo was beaten by her husband, had occurred for the last 4 years of their marriage, beginning when she became pregnant with Anthony. There were daily arguments during which Mr. Russo hit her hard enough to leave bruises on her face and arms. During their final argument, about Ms. Russo’s buying an expensive tricycle for Anthony, her husband had held a loaded gun to Anthony’s head and threatened to shoot him if she did not agree to return the tricycle to the store. Ms. Russo obtained a court order of protection that prevented her husband from having any contact with her or their son. She and Anthony relocated to her parents’ apartment, where they are still living. Ms. Russo, an only child, is a high school and secretarial school graduate. She worked as an executive secretary for 6 years before her marriage and for the first 2 years after, until Anthony’s birth. Before her marriage, Ms. Russo had her own apartment. She was close to her parents, visiting them weekly and speaking to them a couple of times a week. Ms. Russo had many friends whom she also saw regularly. She still had several friends from her high school years. In high school, she had been a popular cheerleader and a good student. In the office where she had worked as a secretary, she was in charge of organizing office holiday parties and money collections for employee gifts. She had no past history of depression; there was no family history of violence, mental illness, or substance abuse. Her parents have been happily married for 25 years. Mr. and Ms. Russo met at work, where he was an accountant. They married after a 3-month courtship, during which time Ms. Russo observed Mr. Russo using cocaine twice at parties. When she expressed concern, he reassured her that he was only “trying it to be sociable” and denied any regular use. Mr. Russo, a college graduate, is the oldest of three siblings. His father drank a pint of bourbon each night and often beat Mr. Russo’s mother. Mr. Russo’s two younger brothers both have histories of substance abuse. During their first year of marriage, Mr. Russo became increasingly irritable and critical of his wife. He began to request that she stop calling and seeing her friends after work, and he refused to allow them or his in-laws to visit their apartment. Ms. Russo convinced her husband to try marital therapy, but he refused to return after the initial two sessions. Despite her misgivings about her husband’s behavior toward her, Ms. Russo decided to become pregnant. During the seventh month of the pregnancy, she developed thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the leg veins) and had to stay home in bed. Her husband began complaining that their apartment was not clean enough and that Ms. Russo was not able to shop for groceries. He never helped her with the housework. He refused to allow his mother-in-law to come to the apartment to help. One morning when he could not find a clean shirt, he became angry and yelled at Ms. Russo. When she suggested that he pick up some clothes from the laundry, he began hitting her with his fists. She left him and went to live with her parents for a week. He expressed remorse for hitting her and agreed to resume marital therapy. At her parents’ and husband’s urging, Ms. Russo returned to her apartment. No further violence occurred until after Anthony’s birth. At that time, Mr. Russo began using cocaine every weekend and often became violent when he was high. In the 3 months since she left her husband, Ms. Russo has become increasingly depressed. Her appetite has been poor, and she has lost 10 pounds. She cries a lot and often wakes up at 5 A.M., unable to get back to sleep. Since she left her husband, he has been calling her at her parents’ home and begging her to return to him. One week before her psychiatric evaluation, Ms. Russo’s parents took her to their general practitioner. Her physical examination was normal, and he referred her for psychiatric treatment. When seen by a psychiatrist in the outpatient clinic, Ms. Russo is pale and thin, dressed in worn-out jeans and a dark blue sweater. Her haircut is unstylish, and she appears older than she is. She speaks slowly, describing her depressed mood and lack of energy. She says that her only pleasure is in being with her son. She is able to take care of him physically but feels guilty because her preoccupation with her own bad feelings prevents her from being able to play with him. She now has no social contacts other than with her parents and her son. She feels worthless and blames herself for her marital problems, saying that if she had been a better wife, maybe her husband would have been able to give up the cocaine. When asked why she stayed with him so long, she explains that her family disapproved of divorce and kept telling her that she should try harder to make her marriage a success. She also thought about what her life would be like trying to take care of her son while working full time and did not think she could make it. Ms. Russo received medication and individual psychotherapy for her depression. She also participated in group therapy with other women who had been abused by their spouses. After 6 months of therapy, Ms. Russo was no longer depressed. She bought new clothes and had her hair cut in a more flattering and youthful style. She found employment as an executive secretary and placed Anthony in a day care center, where she participated in parent programs. She reported that she and Anthony had fun together in the evening and on weekends. She again began seeing her friends. With financial assistance from her parents, she began divorce proceedings against her husband and requested sole custody of Anthony.
Discussion of “Worthless Wife”
When Ms. Russo comes to treatment, she has almost all the characteristic symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (DSM-5, p. 160). Her mood is persistently depressed; she has lost interest and pleasure in all activities except taking care of her son; she feels worthless, has trouble concentrating, has poor appetite and has lost weight, lacks energy, and has difficulty sleeping. Because she has no history of prior episodes of significant depression, this would be noted as a Single Episode. Ms. Russo’s depression has more than enough of the required symptoms of the disorder and significantly affects her role (as a mother) and social functioning, but she has been managing with her parents’ help and is not completely dysfunctional. The severity of the episode would therefore be noted as Moderate. Following her excellent response to treatment, her disorder might be considered to be In Full Remission. It would be important to observe her for a period of time to monitor for any recurrence.