NRNP-6635 Week 3 Assignment: Assessing and Diagnosing Patients With Mood Disorders
Accurately diagnosing depressive disorders can be challenging given their periodic and, at times, cyclic nature. Some of these disorders occur in response to stressors and, depending on the cultural history of the client, may affect their decision to seek treatment. Bipolar disorders can also be difficult to properly diagnose. While clients with a bipolar or related disorder will likely have to contend with the disorder indefinitely, many find that the use of medication and evidence-based treatments have favorable outcomes.
To Prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources. Consider the insights they provide about assessing and diagnosing mood disorders.
- Download the Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Template, which you will use to complete this Assignment. Also review the Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Exemplar to see an example of a completed evaluation document.
- By Day 1 of this week, select a specific video case study to use for this Assignment from the Video Case Selections choices in the Learning Resources. View your assigned video case and review the additional data for the case in the “Case History Reports” document, keeping the requirements of the evaluation template in mind.
- Consider what history would be necessary to collect from this patient.
- Consider what interview questions you would need to ask this patient.
- Identify at least three possible differential diagnoses for the patient.
By Day 7 of Week 3
Complete and submit your Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation, including your differential diagnosis and critical-thinking process to formulate a primary diagnosis. Incorporate the following into your responses in the template:
- Subjective: What details did the patient provide regarding their chief complaint and symptomology to derive your differential diagnosis? What is the duration and severity of their symptoms? How are their symptoms impacting their functioning in life?
- Objective: What observations did you make during the psychiatric assessment?
- Assessment: Discuss the patient’s mental status examination results. What were your differential diagnoses? Provide a minimum of three possible diagnoses with supporting evidence, listed in order from highest priority to lowest priority. Compare the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for each differential diagnosis and explain what DSM-5 criteria rules out the differential diagnosis to find an accurate diagnosis. Explain the critical-thinking process that led you to the primary diagnosis you selected. Include pertinent positives and pertinent negatives for the specific patient case.
- Reflection notes: What would you do differently with this client if you could conduct the session over? Also include in your reflection a discussion related to legal/ethical considerations (demonstrate critical thinking beyond confidentiality and consent for treatment!), health promotion and disease prevention taking into consideration patient factors (such as age, ethnic group, etc.), PMH, and other risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic, cultural background, etc.).
Solution:NRNP-6635 Week 3 Assignment: Assessing and Diagnosing Patients With Mood Disorders
Subjective:
CC (chief complaint): “Mom says I get moody this time of year, every year. I don’t know. Maybe” (Symptom Media, 2016).
HPI: N.C. is a 17-year-old Caucasian female, presents for evaluation of depressed mood and decreased functioning. She is not currently taking any psychiatric medications. She was referred by her mother who noted a change in her typical seasonal mood patterns with increased dysphoria and functional impairment. The patient reports a several months of depressed mood characterized by sadness, anhedonia, feelings of worthlessness, sleep disturbance with increased need for sleep, fluctuating appetite with recent unintentional weight gain, difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, fatigue, and withdrawn behavior. She states that this is different from her typical seasonal affective pattern in the past, which she described as short-lived mild low mood without significant changes in functioning. The onset of her current symptoms occurred after beginning a new accelerated business program in Chicago. Initially, she did well adjusting to the program socially and academically. However, over the past two months, she has noticed declines in concentration, motivation, and performance. She left the business program due to falling behind on assignments and poor attendance related to oversleeping. Socially, she reports withdrawing from friends and finding little enjoyment in previous activities. Her current symptoms impact her ability to function as a student and maintain interpersonal relationships. She reports missing several classes per week due to lack of motivation and oversleeping. She is falling behind on assignments and is at risk of failing courses. Socially, she isolates and finds little pleasure in previously enjoyable activities with friends.
Past Psychiatric History:
- General Statement: The patient reports no previous psychiatric history prior to her current symptoms.
- Caregivers (if applicable): None.
- Hospitalizations: None
- Medication trials: No previous psychiatric medications were tried.
- Psychotherapy or Previous Psychiatric Diagnosis: The patient has never received psychotherapy or been given a previous psychiatric diagnosis. She reports that her current symptoms are her first experience with a mental health condition….Please click purchase button below to get full answer for $10