Psychopharmacologic treatments for patients with multiple mental health disorders.
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you will likely encounter patients who suffer from various
mental health disorders. Not surprisingly, ensuring that your patients have the appropriate
psychopharmacologic treatments will be essential for their overall health and well-being. The
psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for patients may have potential impacts
on other mental health conditions and, therefore, require additional consideration for positive
patient outcomes. For this Assignment, you will review and apply your understanding of
psychopharmacologic treatments for patients with multiple mental health disorders.
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you will likely encounter patients who suffer from various mental health disorders. Not surprisingly, ensuring that your patients have the appropriate psychopharmacologic treatments will be essential for their overall health and well-being. The psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for patients may have potential impacts on other mental health conditions and, therefore, require additional consideration for positive patient outcomes. For this Assignment, you will review and apply your understanding of psychopharmacologic treatments for patients with multiple mental health disorders.
TO PREPARE
• Review the Learning Resources for this week.
• Reflect on the psychopharmacologic treatments that you have covered up to this point that may be available to treat patients with mental health disorders.
• Consider the potential effects these psychopharmacologic treatments may have on co-existing mental health conditions and/or their potential effects on your patient’s overall health.
TO COMPLETE:
Address the following Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week.
1. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse. Which drugs are contraindicated, if any, and why? Be specific. What is the timeframe that the patient should see resolution of symptoms?
2. List 4 predictors of late onset generalized anxiety disorder.
3. List 4 potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression.
4. An episode of major depression is defined as a period of time lasting at least 2 weeks. List at least 5 symptoms required for the episode to occur. Be specific.
5. List 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia. Be specific.
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIn 3 or 4 sentences, explain the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse. Which drugs are contraindicated, if any, and why. Be specific. What it is the timeframe that the patient should see resolution of symptoms? 13 to >11.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse…. The response accurately and clearly details which drugs are contraindicated with specific examples…. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the timeframe that the patient should see resolution of symptoms. 11 to >10.0 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
The response accurately explains the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse…. The response accurately identifies which drugs are contraindicated with specific examples…. The response accurately explains the timeframe that the patient should see resolution of symptoms. 10 to >9.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse…. The response inaccurately or vaguely identifies which drugs are contraindicated with inaccurate or vague examples…. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the timeframe that the patient should see resolution of symptoms. 9 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse, or is missing…. The response inaccurately and vaguely identifies which drugs are contraindicated with inaccurate examples, or is missing…. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the timeframe that the patient should see resolution of symptoms, or is missing.
13 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeList four predictors of late onset generalized anxiety disorder. 13 to >11.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
The response accurately and clearly lists in detail four predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder. 11 to >10.0 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
The response accurately lists four predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder. 10 to >9.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
The response inaccurately or vaguely lists four predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder. 9 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
The response inaccurately and vaguely lists four predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder, or is missing.
13 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeList four potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression. 13 to >11.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
The response accurately and clearly lists in detail four potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression. 11 to >10.0 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
The response accurately lists four potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression. 10 to >9.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
The response inaccurately or vaguely lists four potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression. 9 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
The response inaccurately and vaguely lists four potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression.
13 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAn episode of major depression is defined as a period of time lasting at least 2 weeks. List at least five symptoms required for the episode to occur. Be specific. 13 to >11.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail at least five symptoms for the episode of major depression to occur…. Specific examples provided fully support the response. 11 to >10.0 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
The response accurately explains at least five symptoms for the episode of major depression to occur…. Specific examples provided support the response. 10 to >9.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains at least five symptoms for the episode of major depression to occur…. Specific examples provided inaccurately or vaguely support the response. 9 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains at least five symptoms for the episode of major depression to occur, or is missing…. Specific examples provided do not support the response, or is missing.
13 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeList 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia. Be specific. 13 to >11.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
The response accurately and clearly lists in detail 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia…. Examples provided fully support the response provided. 11 to >10.0 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
The response accurately lists 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia…. Examples provided support the response provided. 10 to >9.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
The response inaccurately or vaguely lists 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia…. Examples provided inaccurately or vaguely support the response provided. 9 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
The response inaccurately and vaguely lists 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia, or is missing…. Examples provided do not support the response provided, or is missing.
13 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation 5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. 4 to >3.5 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
Contains a few (1 or 2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. 3.5 to >2.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
Contains several (3 or 4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. 2 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. 5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent Point range: 90–100
Uses correct APA format with no errors. 4 to >3.5 pts
Good Point range: 80–89
Contains a few (1 or 2) APA format errors. 3.5 to >2.0 pts
Fair Point range: 70–79
Contains several (3 or 4) APA format errors. 2 to >0 pts
Poor Point range: 0–69
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.
5 pts
Total Points: 75
—>
The appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse would likely be a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), in combination with a naltrexone or acamprosate to address the alcohol abuse. Antidepressants in the class of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) would be contraindicated in this case as they can interact with alcohol and cause a severe and potentially fatal reaction. The patient should see resolution of symptoms within 4-6 weeks after starting treatment.
Predictors of late onset generalized anxiety disorder may include:
Age over 60
Medical conditions
Trauma or stressful life events
Social isolation
History of other mental health disorders
Potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression may include:
Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine or serotonin
Inflammation or infection in the brain
Abnormalities in the structure or function of brain regions involved in mood regulation
Genetic factors
Symptoms required for an episode of major depression to occur include:
Depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities
Significant weight loss or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
Classes of drugs that precipitate insomnia, with corresponding examples, include:
Stimulants: amphetamines (Adderall)
Antidepressants: tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine)
Corticosteroids: prednisone
