Week 6 Therapy for Patients With Anxiety Disorders and PTSD Treatment

Week 6: Therapy for Patients With Anxiety Disorders and PTSD Treatment
I’m no longer at the mercy of my PTSD, and I would not be here today had I not had the proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s never too late to seek help.
—P.K. Philips, PTSD patient
For individuals presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders, everyday life can be a constant challenge. Clients requiring anxiolytic therapy may present with anxiousness, depression, substance abuse issues, and even physical symptoms related to cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal ailments. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you must be prepared to address the many needs of individuals seeking treatment for PTSD and other anxiety disorders.
This week, as you study anxiolytic therapies and PTSD treatments, you examine the assessment and treatment of patients with PTSD and other anxiety disorders. You also explore ethical and legal implications of these therapies.
Reference:
Philips, P. K. (n.d.). My story of survival: Battling PTSD. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/personal-stories/my-story-survival-battling-ptsd
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Assess patient factors and history to develop personalized plans of anxiolytic therapy for patients
Analyze factors that influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in patients requiring anxiolytic therapy
Synthesize knowledge of providing care to patients presenting with anxiolytic therapy
Analyze ethical and legal implications related to prescribing anxiolytic therapy to patients across the lifespan
Assess psychopharmacologic approaches to treatment for patients across the lifespan
XXXXXAssignment: Assessing and Treating Patients With Anxiety Disorders
Common symptoms of anxiety disorders include chest pains, shortness of breath, and other physical symptoms that may be mistaken for a heart attack or other physical ailment. These manifestations often prompt patients to seek care from their primary care providers or emergency departments. Once it is determined that there is no organic basis for these symptoms, patients are typically referred to a psychiatric mental health practitioner for anxiolytic therapy. For this Assignment, as you examine the patient case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with anxiety disorders.
To prepare for this Assignment:
Review this week’s Learning Resources, including the Medication Resources indicated for this week.
Reflect on the psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for the assessment and treatment of patients requiring anxiolytic therapy.
The Assignment: 5 pages
Examine Case Study: A Middle-Aged Caucasian Man With Anxiety. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this patient. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.
At each decision point, you should evaluate all options before selecting your decision and moving throughout the exercise. Before you make your decision, make sure that you have researched each option and that you evaluate the decision that you will select. Be sure to research each option using the primary literature.
Introduction to the case (1 page)
Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.
Decision #1 (1 page)
Which decision did you select?
Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #2 (1 page)
Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #3 (1 page)
Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Conclusion (1 page)
Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
XXX Case study XXX
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Middle-Aged White Male With Anxiety
Middle aged male
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The client is a 46-year-old white male who works as a welder at a local steel fabrication factory. He presents today after being referred by his PCP after a trip to the emergency room in which he felt he was having a heart attack. He stated that he felt chest tightness, shortness of breath, and feeling of impending doom. He does have some mild hypertension (which is treated with low sodium diet) and is about 15 lbs. overweight. He had his tonsils removed when he was 8 years old, but his medical history since that time has been unremarkable. Myocardial infarction was ruled out in the ER and his EKG was normal. Remainder of physical exam was WNL.
He admits that he still has problems with tightness in the chest and episodes of shortness of breath- he now terms these “anxiety attacks.” He will also report occasional feelings of impending doom, and the need to “run” or “escape” from wherever he is at.
In your office, he confesses to occasional use of ETOH to combat worries about work. He admits to consuming about 3-4 beers/night. Although he is single, he is attempting to care for aging parents in his home. He reports that the management at his place of employment is harsh, and he fears for his job. You administer the HAM-A, which yields a score of 26.
Client has never been on any type of psychotropic medication.
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
The client is alert, oriented to person, place, time, and event. He is appropriately dressed. Speech is clear, coherent, and goal-directed. Client’s self-reported mood is “bleh” and he does endorse feeling “nervous”. Affect is somewhat blunted, but does brighten several times throughout the clinical interview. Affect broad. Client denies visual or auditory hallucinations, no overt delusional or paranoid thought processes readily apparent. Judgment is grossly intact, as is insight. He denies suicidal or homicidal ideation.
You administer the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) which yields a score of 26.
Diagnosis: Generalized anxiety disorder
RESOURCES
§ Hamilton, M. (1959). Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Psyctests, doi:10.1037/t02824-0
XXXX Decision Point One
Select what you should do:
Begin Zoloft 50 mg po daily
Begin Imipramine 25 mg po BID
Begin Buspirone 10 mg po BID
WHAT I CHOSE FOR DECISION POINT ONE: Begin Zoloft 50mg po daily
RESULTS OF MY DECISION POINT ONE CHOICE zoloft 50 mg po daily:
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client informs you that he has no tightness in chest, or shortness of breath
Client states that he noticed decreased worries about work over the past 4 or 5 days
HAM-A score has decreased to 18 (partial response)
RESULTS OF OTHER TWO MEDICATIONS to reference in point one as to the reason why i am not using them
Begin Tofranil (imipramine) 25 mg orally BID results:
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client reports a “slight” decrease in symptoms
Client’s states that he no longer gets chest tightness, but still has occasional episodes of shortness of breath
HAM-A score decreased from 26 to 22
Begin Buspirone 10 mg orally BID results:
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client reports slight decrease in symptoms
Client states that he still feels very anxious
HAM-A score decreased from 26 to 23
XXXX Decision Point Two
Select what you should do next:
Increase dose to 75 mg orally daily
Increase dose to 100 mg orally daily
No change in drug/dose at this time
WHAT I CHOISE FOR DECISION POINT TWO: Increase dose to 75 mg orally daily
RESULTS OF MY DECISION POINT TWO CHOICE zoloft 75mg:
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client reports an even further reduction in his symptoms
HAM-A score has now decreased to 10. At this point- continue current dose (61% reduction in symptoms)
RESULTS OF OTHER TWO MEDICATIONS to reference in point two as to why i am not using them:
Increase dose to 100 mg orally daily results:
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client is a bit evasive about his symptoms. Eventually he admits that he stopped taking the medication about a week ago because he was experiencing difficulty acquiring an erection.
No change in drug/dose at this time results:
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client reports no further decreases in anxiety and is wondering if this means that the medication will not be effective for him
XXXX Decision Point Three
Select what you should do next:
Maintain current dose
Increase current dose of medication to 100 mg orally daily
Add augmentation agent such as BuSpar (buspirone)
WHAT I CHOSE FOR DECISION POINT THREE: Maintain Current Dose
RESULTS OF MY DECISION FOR POINT THREE CHOICE maintain current dose:
At this point, it may be appropriate to continue client at the current dose. It is clear that the client is having a good response (as evidenced by greater than a 50% reduction in symptoms) and the client is currently not experiencing any side effects, the current dose can be maintained for 12 weeks to evaluate full effect of drug. Increasing drug at this point may yield a further decrease in symptoms, but may also increase the risk of side effects. This is a decision that you should discuss with the client. Nothing in the client’s case tells us that we should consider adding an augmentation agent at this point as the client is demonstrating response to the drug. Avoid polypharmacy unless symptoms cannot be managed by a single drug.
RESULTS OF OTHER TWO MEDICATIONS to reference in point three as to why i am not using them:
Increase current dose of medication to 100 mg orally daily results:
At this point, it may be appropriate to continue client at the current dose. It is clear that the client is having a good response (as evidenced by greater than a 50% reduction in symptoms) and the client is currently not experiencing any side effects, the current dose can be maintained for 12 weeks to evaluate full effect of drug. Increasing drug at this point may yield a further decrease in symptoms, but may also increase the risk of side effects. This is a decision that you should discuss with the client. Nothing in the client’s case tells us that we should consider adding an augmentation agent at this point as the client is demonstrating response to the drug. Avoid polypharmacy unless symptoms cannot be managed by a single drug.
Add augmentation agent such as BuSpar (buspirone) results:
At this point, it may be appropriate to continue client at the current dose. It is clear that the client is having a good response (as evidenced by greater than a 50% reduction in symptoms) and the client is currently not experiencing any side effects, the current dose can be maintained for 12 weeks to evaluate full effect of drug. Increasing drug at this point may yield a further decrease in symptoms, but may also increase the risk of side effects. This is a decision that you should discuss with the client. Nothing in the client’s case tells us that we should consider adding an augmentation agent at this point as the client is demonstrating response to the drug. Avoid polypharmacy unless symptoms cannot be managed by a single drug.
XXXXFOLLOW THIS RUBRIC IN ANSWERING THE QUESTION
XXXXRubric XXXX
Rubric Detail
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Name: NURS_6630_Week6_Assignment_Rubric
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Excellent
Point range: 90–100 Good
Point range: 80–89 Fair
Point range: 70–79 Poor
Point range: 0–69
Introduction to the case (1 page)
Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.
9 (9%) – 10 (10%)
The response accurately, clearly, and fully summarizes in detail the case for the Assignment.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the specific patient factors that impact decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.
8 (8%) – 8 (8%)
The response accurately summarizes the case for the Assignment.
The response accurately explains the specific patient factors that impact decision making with prescribing medication for this patient.
7 (7%) – 7 (7%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely summarizes the case for the Assignment.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the specific patient factors that impact decision making with prescribing medication for this patient.
0 (0%) – 6 (6%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely summarizes the case for the Assignment, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the specific patient factors that impact decision making with prescribing medication for this patient.
Decision #1 (1–2 pages)
• Which decision did you select?
• Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
• Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
• What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
• Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the decision selected.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the decision selected.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided fully support the decisions and responses provided.
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
The response accurately explains the decision selected.
The response explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the decision selected.
The response accurately explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response.
The response accurately explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response.
The response accurately explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided support the decisions and responses provided.
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the decision selected.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the decision selected.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided may support the decisions and responses provided.
0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the decision selected.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the response, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients, or is missing.
Examples provided do not support the decisions and responses provided, or is missing.
Decision #2 (1–2 pages)
• Which decision did you select?
• Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
• Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
• What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
• Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the decision selected.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the decision selected.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided fully support the decisions and responses provided.
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
The response accurately explains the decision selected.
The response explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the decision selected.
The response accurately explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response.
The response accurately explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response.
The response accurately explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided support the decisions and responses provided.
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the decision selected.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the decision selected.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided may support the decisions and responses provided.
0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains in detail the decision selected.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the response, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients, or is missing.
Examples provided do not support the decisions and responses provided, or is missing.
Decision #3 (1–2 pages)
• Which decision did you select?
• Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
• Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
• What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
• Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the decision selected.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the decision selected.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response.
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided fully support the decisions and responses provided.
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
The response accurately explains the decision selected.
The response explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the decision selected.
The response accurately explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response.
The response accurately explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response.
The response accurately explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided support the decisions and responses provided.
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the decision selected.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the decision selected.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients.
Examples provided may support the decisions and responses provided.
0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains in detail the decision selected.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the response, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients, or is missing.
Examples provided do not support the decisions and responses provided, or is missing.
Conclusion (1 page)
• Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response accurately and clearly summarizes in detail the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient.
The response accurately and clearly explains a justification for the recommendations provided, including clinically relevant resources that fully support the recommendations provided.
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
The response accurately summarizes the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient.
The response accurately explains a justification for the recommendation provided, including clinically relevant resources that support the recommendations provided.
11 (11%) – 11 (11%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely summarizes the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient.
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains a justification for the recommendations provided, including clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the recommendations provided.
0 (0%) – 10 (10%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely summarizes the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient, or is missing.
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains a justification for the recommendations provided, including clinically relevant resources that do not support the recommendations provided, or is missing.
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:
Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria.
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.
A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion are provided that delineate all required criteria.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.
Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet they are brief and not descriptive.
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time.
Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.
No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion were provided.
Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:
Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1 or 2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3 or 4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
Written 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 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1 or 2) APA format errors.
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3 or 4) APA format errors.
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.
Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6630_Week6_Assignment_Rubric