Mood Stabilizing Agents|Legit essays
Posted: February 15th, 2023
Mood Stabilizing Agents
Instructions: Case Discussion on Bipolar Disorder:
Wendy is a 30-year-old, unemployed white female. She is no stranger to therapy, having seen counselors for most of her teen and adult years. Her friends would describe her as a “wild woman” who takes no crap from anyone. She has held various part-time jobs for the last few years because she usually gets angry at her boss or coworkers and quits. While she has had a string of boyfriends over the years, she has been seeing one man for the last year or so. He too is unemployed and has both an alcohol and methamphetamine problem. She describes the relationship as “addictive and dysfunctional, yet exciting and hot.” Wendy is back in treatment at the urging of her parents, who describe her behavior as erratic and unpredictable. They also claim that she has periods where she “sleeps little and parties lots.” There were also several occasions in the last five years when she was so depressed she didn’t eat or want to leave the house. Her father also admits to periods of depression, and Trisha’s grandfather was diagnosed with manic depression, resulting in numerous hospitalizations in the 1950s and 1960s. Wendy’s only brother died in a car accident several years ago. He was drunk at the time, but she claims he had a long history of depression. Recently Trisha was arrested for disorderly conduct at a friend’s party. She had not slept for nearly 24 hours and was drunk and combative. When she was first approached by police, she solicited them for sex. They report that she was rather hyperverbal and hyperactive. They later had to investigate a complaint from local storeowners for bad checks she wrote in excess of $7,000.
- Summarize the clinical case.
- Create a list of the patient’s problems and prioritize them.
- Which diagnosis should be considered
- What is your rationale for the diagnosis
- What differential diagnosis should be considered
- What test or screening tools should be considered to help identify the correct diagnosis
- What treatment would you prescribe and what is the rationale (consider psychopharmacology, diagnostics tests, referrals, psychotherapy, psychoeducation)
- What standard guidelines would you use to assess or treat this patient
Responses need to address all components of the question, demonstrate critical thinking and analysis and include peer-reviewed journal evidence to support the student’s position.
SOLUTION
Summary: Wendy is a 30-year-old unemployed woman with a history of therapy for anger and depression. She has a string of part-time jobs and a history of quitting due to conflicts with her coworkers or bosses. She is currently in a dysfunctional, addictive relationship with a man who has substance abuse problems. She has a family history of depression and manic depression, and her brother died in a car accident while drunk. Wendy has periods of depression and hyperactivity, and she was recently arrested for disorderly conduct and bad checks.
Patient’s problems (in order of priority):
- Substance abuse: Wendy is in a dysfunctional, addictive relationship with a man who has substance abuse problems, and she has a history of depression and periods of hyperactivity, which can be associated with substance use.
- Mood disorder: Wendy has a family history of depression and manic depression, and she has periods of depression and hyperactivity.
- Impulsivity and poor judgment: Wendy has a history of quitting jobs and recently engaged in disorderly conduct and bad checks.
- Relationship issues: Wendy is in a dysfunctional, addictive relationship with a man who has substance abuse problems.
Diagnosis: Bipolar disorder with a history of substance abuse and possible comorbid personality disorder.
Rationale: Wendy has a family history of bipolar disorder, which is characterized by periods of depression and
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