An African American Child Suffering From Depression

An African American Child Suffering From Depression Case Study Paper

Examine Case Study: An African American Child Suffering From Depression. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this client. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the client’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics processes.

• At each decision point stop to complete the following:
  • Decision #1
    • Which decision did you select?
    • Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
    • What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
    • Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #1 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
  • Decision #2
    • Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
    • What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
    • Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #2 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
  • Decision #3
    • Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
    • What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
    • Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #3 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
• Also include how ethical considerations might impact your treatment plan and communication with clients.

Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of four or more academic resources.

 

An African American Child Suffering From Depression

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The client is an 8-year-old African American male who arrives at the ER with his mother. He is exhibiting signs of depression.

• Client complained of feeling “sad”
• Mother reports that teacher said child is withdrawn from peers in class
• Mother notes decreased appetite and occasional periods of irritation
• Client reached all developmental landmarks at appropriate ages
• Physical exam unremarkable
• Laboratory studies WNL
• Child referred to psychiatry for evaluation
• Client seen by Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

 

MENTAL STATUS EXAM

Alert & oriented X 3, speech clear, coherent, goal directed, spontaneous. Self-reported mood is “sad”. Affect somewhat blunted, but child smiled appropriately at various points throughout the clinical interview. He denies visual or auditory hallucinations. No delusional or paranoid thought processes noted. Judgment and insight appear to be age-appropriate. He is not endorsing active suicidal ideation, but does admit that he often thinks about himself being dead and what it would be like to be dead.

The PMHNP administers the Children's Depression Rating Scale, obtaining a score of 30 (indicating significant depression)

 

RESOURCES

§ Poznanski, E., & Mokros, H. (1996). Child Depression Rating Scale--Revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

Decision Point One

Select what the PMHNP should do:

 

Begin Zoloft 25 mg orally daily

 

Begin Paxil 10 mg orally daily

 

Begin Wellbutrin 75 mg orally BID

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE

• Client returns to clinic in four weeks
• No change in depressive symptoms at all

Decision Point Two

Select what the PMHNP should do next:

 

Increase dose to 37.5 mg orally daily

 

Increase dose to 50 mg orally daily

 

Change to Prozac 10 mg orally daily

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO

• Client returns to clinic in four weeks
• Depressive symptoms decrease by 20%. Client reports feeling a little bit better

Decision Point Three

Select what the PMHNP should do next:

 

Maintain current dose

 

Increase to 50 mg orally daily

 

Change to a different SSRI

Guidance to Student
At this point, sufficient symptom reduction has not been realized. Should either increase dose or consider different SSRI. At 8 weeks post-initiation of therapy, there should have been a significant (as defined as 50%) decrease in symptoms. This would be considered an adequate trial of antidepressant and change in dose or to a different agent would be appropriate.