Assignment: “Captain of the Ship” Project – Depressive Disorder

Assignment 1: “Captain of the Ship” Project – Depressive Disorder

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Assignment 1: “Captain of the Ship” Project – Depressive Disorder

Introduction

Depression is a mood condition that affects approximately 30% of individuals globally at some stage of their lifestyle. The disorder occurs in people irrespective of their age, class, and daily activities; thus defined as the most disease affecting individuals psychologically (World Health Organization, 2017). Generally, different patients display distinct symptoms associated with the disease. However, the most perceived symptoms include sleeping issues, low mood, and chronic back pain, feelings of guilt, low energy, lack hopes, anger, and appetite or weight changes (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). Therefore, this paper reflecting on the determination of principle and management of depression by describing a treatment program for a patient who is critical suffering from the disease.

History of Present Illness and Clinical Impression for the Client

Jane is a 32-year-old Caucasian who works in one of the retail industries in the city. The client came to the clinic after encountering signs and symptoms associated with depression. The patient stated that she always had sad feelings, trouble sleeping at night, low appetite, overeating, and feeling helplessness. Jane admitted that she had disturbed sleep associated with taking several hours before falling asleep, and some night she lacked sleep or take 2-3 hours while sleeping. Significantly, the worries she encountered reflected on thoughts of not being a good woman and not giving the best care to her daughter (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). The daughter complained of being neglected by her mother and threatened to move away from the family. More so, the husband associated her busy schedule at work with ineffective care perceived by the daughter. The assessment confirmed that the patient was suffering from depression. Therefore, she acknowledges the idea of attending therapies as a mechanism to limit the condition.

Recommend Psychopharmacologic Treatments

In the period of evaluation, the patient dismissed being on medication or using drugs. She denied encountering any effects of drugs such as irritation, hallucination, and attempt to commit suicide from previous medicines. Janes also cited the absence of allergic responses to any medicine she had in the past, and this was essential in defined effective psychopharmacological treatments. However, the nature of the therapy depends on the level of depression perceived by the clients. The types of the condition include mild, mild to moderate, or moderate to severe depression. According to the history of the present illness, the patient suffers from moderate to severe depression. Therefore, I will recommend the application of antidepressant medicines such as 10 mg of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor daily until the symptom of moderate to severe depression ceases (Cleare, Pariante, Young, Anderson, Christmas, Cowen, & Haddad, 2015). More so, I will suggest the use of Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy to direct magnetic energy pulses to the part of the brain engaged in the mood. TMS therapy will end when the patient acknowledges having positive feelings and enough sleep. Also, I will suggest the application of vitamin supplement for two weeks to manage the changed appetite.

Recommend psychotherapy

Generally, psychotherapy is an essential medication approach to depression in individuals. The mechanism helps in advancing feelings and providing psychological practices which will make Jane have a positive attitude towards life and other issues in the surrounding. The essential recommendation for Jane is individual-therapy while enhancing the management of feelings and other symptoms. Vital psychotherapies include cognitive, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral. Cognitive therapy focuses on changing the thought perceived by the patients by reducing her lousy feeling regarding the issues in the family. The medication would also assist the patient in determining the mechanisms of negative thinking and diverting them into positive thoughts. The changing of though contributes to enhanced moods; thus lessening the effects of depression. The behavioral therapy entails advancing the behaviors portrayed by the patient by eliminating unwanted characters (Cuijpers, Sijbrandij, Koole, Andersson, Beekman, & Reynolds III, 2014). The aspect may also reflect on pairing unhealthy practices with negative impacts to allow the patient center on best deeds. Significantly, Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be useful by addressing the negative thought and attributes portray by the patient suffering from depression.

Medical management needs, including primary care needs, specific to this client.

The medical management of depression in patients reflects on systematic, population-based mechanisms. Jane encounters moderate to severe type depression which required effective primary care to limit chances of other disorder associated with the condition. Essential primary care needs for my patient include systematic case finding, education, patient engagement, diagnosis, and evidence-based therapies (Cleare, et al, 2015). More so, the medical management requirements for the patient entail psychotherapies and close follow-up to ensure the client attains practical improvements. Also, the patient will need a commitment from nurse practitioners to facilitate the adjustment of medication and consultation with a psychiatrist until there is full recovery from depression.

Community Support Resources and Agencies

The management of depression also required support from the community and organizations. For instance, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reflects on the identification of mechanisms to improve the standard of life for individuals with depression and anxiety linked disorders. The organization is non-profitable and provides education, resources, and support for patients to strengthen medication. The funds may include housing and financing individuals with particular needs to limit chances of depression. More so, the efforts from the community, such as research and formation of groups play an essential role in assisting patients with depression (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). The social activities such as sports and schools also reduce the effects of the condition by motivating individuals to have positive feelings towards life aspects.

Recommend a plan for follow-up intensity and frequency and collaboration with other providers.

Jane will report to the medical facilities ones every week in the first three months. The visit would help me to assess her improvement mechanism using a baseline electrocardiogram to define the psychological conditions. The act would also assist me in determining how she responds to the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and recommended psychotherapies. More so, the patient will attend treatments twice a week with nurse practitioners (NPs) to analyze the suicide thoughts. Individuals would also determine side effects such as headache, itching, and fatigue associated with prescribed medication. Significantly, the patient will have a suicide hotline number and allowed to conduct a follow-up with primary care deliverers for any medical issue (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). Conclusively, all the medication process attended by the patient would be documented, emailed to the psychiatrist and given to the patient to enhance personal assessment.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2015). Depressive Disorders: DSM-5® Selections. American Psychiatric Pub.

Cleare, A., Pariante, C. M., Young, A. H., Anderson, I. M., Christmas, D., Cowen, P. J., ... & Haddad, P. M. (2015). Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: a revision of the 2008 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 29(5), 459-525.

Cuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S. L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A. T., & Reynolds III, C. F. (2014). Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis. Focus, 12(3), 347-358.

Devries, K. M., Mak, J. Y., Bacchus, L. J., Child, J. C., Falder, G., Petzold, M., ... & Watts, C. H. (2013). Intimate partner violence and incident depressive symptoms and suicide attempts: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. PLoS medicine, 10(5), e1001439.

World Health Organization. (2017). Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates (No. WHO/MSD/MER/2017.2). World Health Organization.