Read Eliza’s case study: Part two and review your completed Biopsychosocial Assessment about Eliza. This assignment has four parts:
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Eliza's Case Study
Jennifer Rizzo
Grand Canyon University
CNL 610
Dr. Lawrence
02/22/2021
Eliza's Case Study
Clinical Justifications
The assessment of Eliza shows that she suffers from a psychiatric disorder. The justification for the assertion is that the patient's behavior manifests signs of a disrupted mental state. Firstly, she looks untidy, a trait that is prevalent in individuals who have mental problems. Subsequently, she keeps repeating some motions and movements. For instance, she counts and tallies figures before answering some questions. Additionally, Eliza's cognitive function also indicates that her mental state is disrupted (Lutgens et al., 2017). She appears to be confused and disoriented, not fully grasping why she engages in some activities. Further, a scrutiny of her moods also shows that she has a psychiatric problem. Firstly, she manifests extreme emotions ranging from anxiety to nervousness and sorrow. The patient's speech pattern is also affected. She makes incoherent statements and changes them from time to time.
Initial Diagnosis
The initial diagnosis that aligns with the symptomatic manifestations present in the patient is psychosis. Psychosis is a psychiatric disorder characterized by severe dysfunction of individuals' mental and neurologic function. The DSM-5 criteria define the condition as a condition where individuals lose touch with reality and develop negative symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations (Maj et al., 2021). The illness is triggered by several elements, including abnormal brain function or exposure to alcoholic drinks and drugs. In Eliza's case, the condition could have precipitated by her indiscriminate consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Initial Treatment Goals
Goal
The goal of treatment in Eliza's case is to reduce the clinical symptoms of her condition. Subsequently, it aims to reduce other secondary effects of the illness, such as extreme emotions. Another important goal of the patient's treatment is to enhance her life quality by improving her functionality levels and minimizing the possibility of the infection recurring (Lutgens et al., 2017). Further, it aims to escalate her cognitive abilities, enabling her to coordinate her thoughts and have a clear memory adequately.
Objective
The objective of the treatment that Eliza will receive will be to provide a care plan that she can adhere to easily. It also aims to educate her and her family about her condition and how she can cope with it constructively (Lutgens et al., 2017). Further, it will enlighten her family about the available treatment options and the best alternative in her situation. Additionally, another critical objective of the treatment is to eliminate any other condition that the patient has, such as her drinking problems and high anxiety levels.
Interventions
The appropriate interventions in managing Eliza's conditions are a combination of antipsychotic medications, psychotherapy, and provision of social support. The antipsychotic drugs will help improve the state of the patient by impeding the release of dopamine, a neurologic substance that affects brain function (Maj et al., 2021). Subsequently, she should undergo a psychotherapy intervention such as CBT to overcome her negative perceptions and thought processes. It will help her develop positive thoughts on the things surrounding her, such as her friends, her family, and adopt realistic academic expectations. Further, social support from her loved ones and other individuals who have adequate knowledge of the issue, such as those in support groups, will positively help her cope with her condition.
Target Dates
The patient will begin taking the antipsychotic medication immediately after diagnosis. After two weeks, when her condition is significantly stable, she can start seeing a psychiatrist for psychotherapeutic sessions. The professional will intervene in the patient's situation by taking her through processes that will transform her social skills and how she interacts with the people around her (Lutgens et al., 2017). Later, after two months of using medications, she can attend social group meetings to receive comprehensive support, which promotes the healing process.
Discharge Plan
The discharge plan suited to the patient includes educating the patient and her family about the significance of assessing the patient closely and contacting a doctor if the negative symptoms do not subside. Further, they should also be informed about the importance of notifying healthcare providers about any new clinical manifestations that develop after leaving the hospital (Maj et al., 2021). The patient should also be educated about the medication they have been given. The educational content that the patient receives includes the possible side effects that the drugs may cause and how to deal with them. Subsequently, they are told the adverse reactions they may experience and what to do when such an eventuality arises. Another significance of the discharge plan is information about self-care techniques and the social support that the family members can offer to the ailing individual (Maj et al., 2021). The family will be informed of the special needs that the patient may have and how to take care of them effectively.
References
Lutgens, D., Gariepy, G., & Malla, A. (2017). Psychological and psychosocial interventions for negative symptoms in psychosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 210(5), 324-332.
Maj, M., van Os, J., De Hert, M., Gaebel, W., Galderisi, S., Green, M. F., ... & Ventura, J. (2021). The clinical characterization of the patient with primary psychosis aimed at personalization of management. World Psychiatry, 20(1), 4-33.