PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS

Octavia Henry

 Depression is a common psychiatric problem that can result from a wide range of individual experiences. A prolonged sense of sadness and loss of interest are symptoms of depression, a mood illness. Although you might only experience depression once in your lifetime, most people experience many bouts. As a healthcare professional, I have cared for many patients with varying psychopathological dimensions of this condition. One notable case that comes to mind involved a stroke-associated care scenario. The patient, a 59-year-old woman, was previously healthy and active before experiencing a brain attack. Despite improving relatively quickly after three weeks of intense physiotherapy, the initial experience had a profound emotional impact on her.

She spent days crying, ate very little, stopped getting out of bed, had trouble sleeping, and expressed self-criticism. It became clear that she had developed depression after screening with the Beck Depression Inventory–Fast Screen (BDI-FS). One scholarly article that relates to my patient care situation is Towfighi et al.’s (2017) work. In this article, the authors explore several topics related to post-stroke depression, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, outcomes, management, and prevention strategies. The article also provides key implications for clinical practice.

In my patient care situation, I taught the patient individualized problem-solving strategies and approaches to identifying and overcoming negative thoughts associated with her condition. I also helped her discover ways to maximize her functional capacity and establish pleasant, realistic activities and social interactions. Furthermore, I emphasized the value of structured moderate physical activity, while acknowledging the limits and complexities of her disabilities. Looking back, I could have recommended engaging in behavioral-psychosocial support programs as an adjunct to usual care.

In terms of advocacy, I safeguarded my patient's rights in the face of conflicts of interest involving her family. For example, her husband wanted her to be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible so that she could continue her recovery at home. However, I respectfully communicated my objections, urging him to follow medical advice and the overall counsel of the patient’s care team. Lastly, it is important to consider the implications of legal requirements, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, honesty, confidentiality, privacy, fidelity, and autonomy when dealing with depression attributed to illness or injury to ensure the best possible care for patients.

 

References

Towfighi, A., Ovbiagele, B., El Husseini, N., Hackett, M. L., Jorge, R. E., Kissela, B. M., Mitchell, P. H., Skolarus, L. E., Whooley, M. A., & Williams, L. S. (2017). Poststroke depression: A scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.  Stroke,  48(2), e30-e43.  https://doi.org/10.1161/STR.0000000000000113Links to an external site.