Assignment 1

Assignment Details

Complete this week’s  Learning Activity  to prepare for the Assignment.

For this week’s Assignment you will write a 4-5 page essay discussing pharmacological treatment interventions for a specific mental health disorder. Use the readings from previous units. and at least three academic sources from the Library. Use the format of diagnosing found in  Diagnosing Mental Health Disorders.  Your paper should synthesize the readings you have completed so far that apply to the topic and should reflect how this synthesis will help you apply what you are learning to your own work in the profession.

Read the following case study:

Chris is a 20-year-old Caucasian male who is in his second year of college. He is seeking treatment due to persistent fears that campus security and the local police are tracking and surveilling him. He cites occasional lags in his internet speed as evidence that surveillance devices are interfering with his electronics. His intense anxiety about this has begun getting in the way of his ability to complete schoolwork, and his friends are concerned – he says they have told him, “you’re not making sense.” He also mentions that his roommate complains that Chris “talks to” himself. Chris reported that he believes the roommate is working with the police.

Chris occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence, looking off in the distance as though he sees or hears something. He expresses concern about electronics in the room (phone, computer) potentially being monitored and asks repeatedly about patient confidentiality, stating that he wants to be sure the police won’t be informed about his treatment. His beliefs are fixed, and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Include the following in your essay:

· Diagnose the mental health issue and justify your diagnosis (matching criteria to presented behavior).

· Select and explain your pharmacological treatment approach including the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug(s) you choose.

· Include any possible short and long-term side effects of the treatment as well as the necessary referrals.

· Describe how your treatment approach will alter brain chemistry and influence behavior.

The Assignment should:

· Follow Assignment directions (review grading rubric for best results).

· Use correct APA formatting per the APA Publication Manual, (6th ed.).

· Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard American English.

· Be written in Standard English and be clear, specific, and error-free. If needed, be sure to use the Writing Center for help.

Your paper should include:

· Title Page

· Abstract

· Main Body of the paper (4–5 pages)

· Reference Page

Submitting your Assignment

Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location that you will remember and with your full name along with the class number. When you are ready to submit it to the unit Dropbox. You should revisit the Dropbox to view any helpful feedback your instructor has left for you.