mental health consultation

Running Head: MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION 1

MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION 2

Mental Health Consultation

PSY645: Psychopathology

Introduction

According to Tasman, Kay & Ursine, (2013) interview is a principal mean of assessing a patient to develop an initial treatment plan or even make a diagnosis. In general, medical assessment, psychiatric interviews and critical in history and physical examination. The fictional mental health consultation scenario does not allow the effective interview, and thus a diagnosis cannot be made. In the review of this scenario, the symptoms and presenting problems by the patient will be evaluated basis it on a theoretical orientation as well as from a historical perspective.

Evaluation of The Patient's Symptoms

Bob who is 38 years appears untidy and poorly groomed which are behavioral responses possibly from his thoughts. Other behavioral responses include pressured speech, elevated body temperature, and agitated speech. The dysfunctional behaviors and emotions presented by Bob can be explained by cognitive behavioral therapy. Bob shows heightened anxiety such that he makes unintentional and purposeless movements which physically expresses anxiety and mental tension which can be used in cognitive therapy. Anxiety causes irritability and inability to relax which is similar to psychomotor agitation (Ravindran & Stein, 2010). He appears mentally disturbed with the thoughts that the police are after him which he repeats several times. This presents unwanted and intrusive thoughts of being followed by the police triggering feelings that are intensely distressing. Since he repeats this several times, it can be narrowed down to an anxiety disorder known as obsessive-compulsive disorder. His thinking and feeling can be determined to impact on how the behaves and therefore changing on his thoughts patterns will enhance a positive behavioral response — the anxieties that Bob presents results in a psychosomatic condition which is manifest through high body temperature. Also, pressured speech is a symptom that is prevalent in several disorders such as bipolar condition and anxiety when coupled with maniac episodes. There is a wide range of issues that can be explained by cognitive theory and therefore through the presented symptoms, the specific disorder can be identified thus making a diagnosis for admittance. Through cognitive theory, the painful and upsetting thoughts can be identified to determine if they are realistic and if unrealistic, changing the thought patterns can be applied.

Summary of Symptoms and Presenting Problems from One Historical Perspective and Two Theoretical Orientations.

The cognitive perspective emerged in the 1960s and also known as cognitive psychology influenced by core psychologists such as Jean Piaget and Albert Bandura (Stam, 2010). It is an approach that focuses on mental processes such as thinking, memory. The cognitive, historical perspective can be used to analyze the internal mental processes in Bob to analyze his perception that police are following his, his pressured speech among other symptoms that he shows. Information- processing model is enhanced to conceptualize how the information is acquired, processed, stored and utilized. As a result, the behavioral response as in the symptoms presented such as the thoughts that the police are after Bob can be evaluated and explained (Akhtar, 2009).

There is a relationship between the thoughts of being followed by police and the other symptoms which have been reviewed among them pressures and circumstantial speech as well as psychomotor agitation. A holistic orientation will focus on the relationship between the spirit, mind, and body to attempt to understand and address the way issues of one aspect such as the mind can lead to concern in other areas such as the body (Stam, 2010). The consciousness of an individual is housed in the integrated mind body and spirit and thus a connection between the emotions, thoughts and physical experiences. Through the holistic orientation, the symptoms in Bob cannot be eliminated, but they can be used to evaluate his consciousness and bring to attention his self-awareness, acceptance, and esteem. Through psychoanalytic, Bob can be better made to understand the unconscious forces that play critical roles in his current behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Their unconscious meanings and motivation evidenced in the symptoms can be evaluated. As a result, the patient will learn about himself and the symptoms can be unraveled

Conclusion

In conclusion, diagnostic manuals aids therapists to ensure consistency in diagnosis. Apart from DSM-5, DSM-IV (1994) and DSM-IV-TR can be used for treating and diagnosing this patient. Critical personality disorders can be diagnosed as per the patient symptoms. The review of the symptoms can enhance the right diagnosis using these two DSMs. DSM-IV (2000) can analyze the form of mental disorder through its five-part axial system. The therapist's guide to brief cognitive behavioral therapy handbook can be used to assessing the patient's symptoms.

References

Akhtar, S. (2009). Turning Points in Dynamic Psychotherapy: Initial Assessment, Boundaries, Money, Disruptions and Suicidal Crises.

Ravindran, L. N., & Stein, M. B. (2010). The pharmacologic treatment of anxiety disorders: a review of progress. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 71(7), 839-854.

Stam, H. J. (2010). Theoretical Communities and Theory & Psychology: A Decade Review.

Tasman, A., Kay, J., & Ursano, R. J. (2013). The Psychiatric Interview: Evaluation and Diagnosis. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.