response to post

Please answer this discussion post. In the additional box, I include my original post.  

Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy

Hello Jean Robert,

Excellent presentation on the week nine grand rounds presentation! I enjoyed listening to your presentation! I agree with your differential diagnoses, and I agree with your priority diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic features. Major depressive disorder with psychotic features is a subtype of depression, and patients with major depressive disorder with psychotic features have been reported to be at an increased risk of suicide; therefore, urgent treatment is important (Asada et al., 2022). Psychoeducation is important for both the patient and the family so everyone is aware of the treatment plan and goals (Grover & Avasthi, 2019; Mullen, 2018). When education is provided, treatment adherence increases. Psychoeducation may include signs and symptoms of depression, clinical course of illness, risk of recurrence, treatment options, and advice for parents on interacting with their depressed youth.(Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy Discussion Essay)

Yes, I can effectively involve the family in the treatment of the patient because patients with major depressive disorder with psychotic features have an increased risk of suicide. When the family is involved, they will gain more knowledge and understanding about the diagnosis and also closely observe the patient to decrease the risk of suicide. The patient can be interviewed alone, but the family needs to be involved in the care.(Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy Discussion Essay)

Thank you so much for sharing!

References

Asada, R., Ogushi, Y., Hori, H., & Kawasaki, H. (2022). Successful treatment for major depressive disorder with psychotic features with addition of asenapine on escitalopram. Psychogeriatrics : The Official Journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society, 22(3), 413–414. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.12812Links to an external site.

Grover, S., & Avasthi, A. (2019). Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of depression in children and adolescents. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(2), 226–240. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_563_18Links to an external site.

Mullen S. (2018). Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents. 

The mental health clinician

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(6), 275–283. 

https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275Links to an external site.

Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy Discussion Essay-Solution

Response to Post

Hello,

I am grateful for taking the time and effort to read, analyze, and respond to my patient assessment note. The patient presents with significant impairment attributed to the break-up with her boyfriend. I appreciate the diverse insights into the note and the new perspectives and considerations when assessing this patient. I am glad you agree with my diagnosis because it shows I am growing more confident and competent in comprehensive patient assessment, establishing diagnoses using the presented symptoms and physical and mental evaluations, and using evidence-based sources to support the rationale for establishing the differential diagnoses and developing a treatment plan. Depressive symptoms co-occur with symptoms of other conditions like psychosis and anxiety (Croarkin, 2018). In this case, the patient presents with depressive symptoms and reports experiencing psychosis, where she can hear voices and see recognizable faces. However, the symptoms cannot adequately confirm bipolar I disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD, the most common mental conditions with psychotic symptoms. Therefore, major depressive disorder with psychotic features is the most appropriate diagnosis.(Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy Discussion Essay)

Combining pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy would help to treat this patient and achieve optimal results effectively. I agree that patient education is associated with increased treatment adherence because patients learn about the need to take medication as prescribed and their benefits and side effects (Taibanguay et al., 2019). Psychoeducation would also help the patient embrace a positive attitude towards life and develop healthy habits like eating healthily and exercising regularly. The patient is a minor, only 17 years old, a reason I would request or inquire more from the parents, who spend more time with the patient and can observe the changes their child is experiencing over time. Their insights would help develop a robust treatment and management plan.(Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy Discussion Essay)