Week 6 – Final Assignment

Final course project attached 

Psychological Treatment Plan

It is recommended that students review the e-book The Complete Adult Psychotherapy Treatment Planner (Jongsma, Peterson, & Bruce, 2014) for additional assistance in completing this assignment.

Clinical and counseling psychologists utilize treatment plans to document a client’s progress toward short- and long-term goals. The content within psychological treatment plans varies depending on the clinical setting. The clinician’s theoretical orientation, evidenced-based practices, and the client’s needs are taken into account when developing and implementing a treatment plan. Typically, the client’s presenting problem(s), behaviorally defined symptom(s), goals, objectives, and interventions determined by the clinician are included within a treatment plan.

To understand the treatment planning process, students will assume the role of a clinical or counseling psychologist and develop a comprehensive treatment plan based on the same case study utilized for the Psychiatric Diagnosis assignment in PSY645. A minimum of five peer-reviewed resources must be used to support the recommendations made within the plan.

The Psychological Treatment Plan

must include the headings and content outlined below.

Behaviorally Defined Symptoms

· Define the client’s presenting problem(s) and provide a diagnostic impression.

· Identify how the problem(s) is/are evidenced in the client’s behavior.

· List the client’s cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

Long-Term Goal

· Generate a long-term treatment goal that represents the desired outcome for the client.

· This goal should be broad and does not need to be measureable.

Short-Term Objectives

· Generate a minimum of three short-term objectives for attaining the long-term goal.

· Each objective should be stated in behaviorally measureable language. Subjective or vague objectives are not acceptable. For example, it should be stated that the objective will be accomplished by a specific date or that a specific symptom will be reduced by a certain percentage.

Interventions

· Identify at least one intervention for achieving each of the short-term objectives.

· Compare a minimum of three evidence-based theoretical orientations from which appropriate interventions can be selected for the client.

· Explain the connection between the theoretical orientation and corresponding intervention selected.

· Provide a rationale for the integration of multiple theoretical orientations within this treatment plan.

· Identify two to three treatment modalities (e.g., individual, couple, family, group, etc.) that would be appropriate for use with the client.

It is a best practice to include outside providers (e.g., psychiatrists, medical doctors, nutritionists, social workers, holistic practitioners, etc.) in the intervention planning process to build a support network that will assist the client in the achievement of treatment goals.

Evaluation

· List the anticipated outcomes of each proposed treatment intervention based on scholarly literature.

· Be sure to take into account the individual’s strengths, weaknesses, external stressors, and cultural factors (e.g., gender, age, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc.) in the evaluation.

· Provide an assessment of the efficacy of evidence-based intervention options.

Ethics

· Analyze and describe potential ethical dilemmas that may arise while implementing this treatment plan.

· Cite specific ethical principles and any applicable law(s) for resolving the ethical dilemma(s).

The Psychological Treatment Plan

· Must be 8 to 10 double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center

· (Links to an external site.)

· .

· Must include a separate title page with the following:

· Title of paper

· Student’s name

· Course name and number

· Instructor’s name

· Date submitted

· Must use at least five peer-reviewed sources in addition to the course text.

· Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.

· Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.

Psychiatric Diagnosis

Theophilus k. Ashrifie

University of Arizona Global Campus

PSY 645 Psychopathology

Instructor: Stefanie Gwaltney-Hausch

December 6, 2021

Introduction

An individual suffering from a mental illness exhibits signs of behavioral, emotional, and psychological dysfunction. There are many symptoms of a mental condition that might appear out of nowhere, and the patients will have more than one symptom that is out of the ordinary in the context of social normality (Wiliams, 2019, p. 1). For a psychologist to fully understand a patient’s condition and the underlying causes of their symptoms, they must gather as much information as possible about them. For this, psychologists use psychological concepts. The diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric patients are based on psychological ideas. Psychologists might utilize the interview and assessment procedure to arrive at a diagnosis by including biological, learning, cognition, and psychoanalytic views by observing their patients. Using Julia as an example, the situation will be explained. Julia’s situation will be better understood by reading this paper. Julia’s symptoms, treatment options, and diagnosis will be the focus of the discussion.

Julia’s presentation of psychological concepts in terms of professional terminology.

Dimensional: Numerous psychological theories will be used to Julia’s diagnosis and therapy, as is evident. DSM-IV has been replaced with other-dimensional options in DSM-V, which is worth mentioning at the outset (Drislane et al., 2019). One of the primary reasons most mental health practitioners have stopped using DSM-IV, according to Boettcher et al. (2020), is the knowledge that psychiatric disorders are linked to both normal and aberrant conduct and may not be distinct from one another.

The holistic approach: Holistic therapy for Julia will be suitable since mental diseases are treated by focusing equally on social, behavioral, and pharmaceutical aspects (Boettcher et al.,2020). Taking Julia’s weight loss as an example, the mental health professional may be required by the family to offer her nutritional supplements as part of Julia’s therapy regimen. It is important that he be empathetic to patients during consultations, as well. Also crucial is that Julia has the freedom to pick her own therapy and not be influenced by anyone else, including her family, roommate, coach, or mental health professional. Insomnia may cause physical and cognitive damage; therefore, a doctor may give her some sleeping drugs if she displays indications of sleepiness. Recovery from a mental illness necessitates reclaiming one’s social roles and identities, which should not be overlooked. Because of her apparent social isolation, holistic treatment will be very beneficial for Julia. An individual’s feeling of self-determination and responsibility is restored via the holistic approach.

Essential perspective model – The perspective paradigm created by John Hopkins Medical School in Maryland is crucial. Mental diseases may be detected and identified using four main viewpoints outlined in this article: Disease, dimensions, behavioral patterns, and patient life history are all included in Drislane and colleagues’ (2019) four perspectives. In the disease’s view, the brain’s normal functioning is impeded by physical injury, which results in mental illnesses. In terms of the dimensions, emphasis is paid to the situations that arise as a result of the patient’s vulnerabilities and problems, which result in emotional and cognitive inadequacies. Disorders caused by a patient’s conduct are considered from the behavioral viewpoint. In other words, it’s time for a change. Drug addiction, food disorders, and alcoholism are just a few examples of these kinds of behaviors. An eating disorder may be present in Julia’s situation if it isn’t properly evaluated and treated. Finally, the life narrative approach focuses on disorders that are closely tied to the patient’s life experiences. Since the events in Julia’s past might explain why she is behaving as she is, a life narrative viewpoint is essential. For example, as a child, she was taunted for her ‘chubby’ appearance and obese face by her peers and family members. Insomnia may have been prompted by receiving a track scholarship (sleeplessness). Studying through the night was a need for her to meet the grade point average (GPA) requirements.

Matching the symptoms to a diagnosis manual’s list of possible illnesses.

It is possible to tell whether Julia has lost a significant amount of weight by examining her weight when she first meets with a mental health specialist. It’s essential to know how much weight she’s shed so that you can provide her with appropriate advice. Another sign that a person has lost weight is that her clothes are too big around her waist. If Julia’s clothing is becoming big, she’s definitely lost weight. Mental health professionals may also be able to tell whether Julia has lost weight by the way she walks, mainly if she walks and seems feeble. Then, on the other side, Julia’s symptoms of tension and worry are on the rise. She might display signs of mental distress. In the same way, these patients are likely to be irritable, temperamental, and quickly irritated. As a result, Julia has also been severing ties with her family and peers (Drislane et al., 2019).

Using the patient’s symptoms and the criteria in the diagnostic handbook to come up with a diagnosis (s).

Due to Julia’s fear of gaining weight, he would lose his track scholarship due to her concern about eating. Since she must maintain a 3.6 GPA, at the very least, to avoid failing her examinations, she’s displaying indications of insomnia.

· Anorexia Nervosa (anxiety overeating).

· Disorders of anxiety, such as insomnia and stress about schoolwork and extracurricular activities.

· After being offended by her roommate, who has a borderline personality condition, she couldn’t contain her rage.

Assessing the patient’s symptoms and the manual diagnostic standards to determine whether or not they satisfy the disorder’s criteria.

It is clear from the patient’s medical history that she suffers from a variety of conditions. Because of her chronic sleeplessness, she is prone to melancholy, anger, and unwarranted worry. In addition, it causes drowsiness and fatigue throughout the day.

When it comes to diagnosing depression, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria will be the most applicable. For at least two weeks, Julia is diagnosed with depression as long as the five of these symptoms are present. It’s also vital to include despair or loss of enjoyment among the five indicators.

Julia qualifies for a diagnosis of depression in the DSM-5 handbook because she is sad, is exhausted, has lost a large amount of weight, and lacks interest in social activities (Drislane et al., 2019). In addition, Julia appears to be battling anxiety problems, including anorexia nervosa. This should be taken into consideration.

Explaining why I opted to utilize the diagnostic handbook, rather than another one.

Since the DSM-IV was phased out in favor of multiaxial diagnostic methodologies, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5-TR) is the most often used guideline for diagnosing mental disorders (Drislane et al., 2019). Unlike the previous DSM –IV-TR, this new handbook does not utilize Roman numerals. In addition, it has had a significant impact on treatment choices and scientific advancements in the field of mental health.

Since it has simplified and clarified the links between various mental illnesses, I feel DSM 5 to be more user-friendly (Drislane et al., 2019). Mental health therapy was hampered by the DSM-tendency IVs to isolate disorders with similar symptoms. There are striking parallels between diseases in DSM-5.

A summary of the proposed diagnosis from a variety of theoretical and historical viewpoints. A mention of comorbidity should be included in a diagnosis that covers more than one condition.

In the field of mental health, there are several approaches to diagnosing and classifying psychological diseases. Many models of dissociative disorders are developed around the idea of an individual’s perceptions, cognitive awareness, motor control, and emotional identity being separated from one another. From the viewpoint of the condition, most people with dissociative disorders have been the victims of either sexual or physical abuse at some point in their past. These other key theoretical orientations include the humanistic theory, learning model; dissociative disorder viewpoint; cognitive psychology; and psychoanalytic theory. According to psychoanalytic theory, one’s thoughts and actions result from interactions between one’s subconscious and conscious mind. This is an important distinction to be made among the many schools of psychological thinking. Because humans are creative, rational, and obligated to utilize their own free will, the humanistic approach is founded on this assumption (Schnell et al.,2019). Based on the premise that people’s actions change as they are seen, a psychological strategy can also be taught. As the last point, as a discipline of psychology, cognitive psychology is used to demonstrate how the mental process affects people’s thoughts, behavior, memories, and solutions. The prevalence of comorbidity, a circumstance in which a patient has been diagnosed with more than one ailment, is clearly clear in cases like Julia’s. In Julia’s instance, the comorbidity is unusual.

Consider the symptoms in light of a relevant theoretical framework for this particular diagnosis.

When it comes to anxiety disorders, the cognitive theory is the greatest theoretical direction for Julia. By establishing Julia’s cognitive process, we may understand her actions and feelings while concentrating on erroneous assumptions. Controlling social interaction and adaptive behavior from the top-down are the processes of social cognition brain function and are both adversely affected by anorexia nervosa, a severe condition (Zagarra-Valdivia, & Chino-Vilca, 2018). In this specific statement, it is said that Julia has a limited capacity to perceive, articulate, and express her emotions, as well as a limited ability to engage with people, forecast the intents of others, or grasp social situations. As a result, she is unable to manage her impulses, self-regulate her emotional state, and monitor her own behavior.

Validity of Diagnosis

While anorexia nervosa may occur in persons of any age, ethnicity, or socioeconomic position, it is vital to remember that it can affect people of any gender or sexual orientation. Approximately 1% of the female population and 3% of the male population suffer from anorexia nervosa; the latter is more frequent among young adults and teens especially if they engage in sports and outdoor activities. (Schnell et al.,2019). In the Anorexia Nervosa Research criteria, advanced cognitive processes, such as abstract thinking and emotional awareness, may not have been completely developed in this group by the time they are adolescents (Boettcher et al.,2020). It is crucial to remember that teenagers may have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions about an eating problem, and it may be more accurate to analyze their behavior rather than their self-report. Be aware that persons with anorexia nervosa have a reduced ability to empathize, especially when it comes to understanding the suffering of others. At the same time, their own discomfort may be a constant characteristic that results in poor emotional awareness and management. (Zagarra-Valdivia, & Chino-Vilca, 2018).

Risk factors

Comorbidity variables may have contributed to the incorrect diagnosis of Julia’s mental health condition. Biological considerations may also include drug interactions if the patient has allergies to the prescribed drugs that haven’t been recognized. Nearly two-thirds of individuals with eating disorders have anxiety symptoms that precede and linger long after the eating disorder has been resolved, according to the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2013. Since anxiety is a probable significant predictor for eating disorders, eating disorders may really be more compulsive expressions of an inherent predisposition to worry (Schnell et al.,2019).

Compare evidence-based and non-evidence-based treatment options for the diagnosis.

In order to manage Julia’s anxiety issue, she may use either psychotherapy or medication. If you are looking for evidence-based treatment when it comes to mental health, cognitive behavioral therapy will be your best option. SRIs are the most effective medicine for treating persistent mental anxiety problems in Julia’s condition, according to evidence-based therapies. Neither are they addictive, nor are there any reports that they impair memory. For anxiety disorder therapy, non-evidence-based treatments include frequent physical activity and healthy eating.

Evaluate and summarize the likelihood of success or likely outcomes for each intervention of well-established diagnostic treatments.

When it comes to Julia’s growth, she’s still a teenager at the age of 17, both intellectually and physically. With the help of cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approaches, Julia’s treatment can be improved by addressing coping skills, motivation, and distorted thought patterns/processes. Support structure for Julia’s health issues by including her parents in family therapy procedures. Tools such as these are essential in helping Julia better understand and cope with her mental health issues. They also help her learn about the necessity of minimizing her risks before they deteriorate and lead to death.

Conclusion

In order to treat Julia in the best way possible, her mental health must be appropriately diagnosed via a full assessment of her as a person as well as the dynamics of her family. The psychosocial stressor that caused Julia’s present behavioral difficulties justifies a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and anorexia nervosa. These illnesses may have a wide range of reasons, but they tend to go hand in hand for Julia. In order to ascertain if Julia’s condition has a hereditary component, further information about her family’s mental health should be gathered before drawing any conclusions about her current predicament. To effectively treat both GAD and anorexia nervosa, it’s essential to identify the most effective treatment options. In order to alleviate her tension and anxiety, she will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy assistance.

Annotated bibliography

Drislane, L. E., Sellbom, M., Brislin, S. J., Strickland, C. M., Christian, E., Wygant, D. B., … & Patrick, C. J. (2019). Improving characterization of psychopathy within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM–5), alternative model for personality disorders: Creation and validation of Personality Inventory for DSM–5 Triarchic scales. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 10(6), 511.

As a diagnostic tool for mental health illnesses, DSM-V is utilized by mental health professionals. Clinicians can better comprehend mental health diagnoses thanks to the DSM-V, which sets out each one in detail. In spite of its lack of information on how to treat a problem, the DSM-V serves as a valuable diagnostic tool for a wide range of disorders.

Schaumberg, K., Zerwas, S., Goodman, E., Yilmaz, Z., Bulik, C. M., & Micali, N. (2019). Anxiety disorder symptoms at age 10 predict eating disorder symptoms and diagnoses in adolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(6), 686-696.

The study was based on parent-reported symptoms of children between the ages of 10 and 14. By the time he was 16, he had already been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. Such problems may be diagnosed and treated at a young age, making the findings crucial.

Abdou, T. A., Esawy, H. I., Mohamed, G. A. R., Ahmed, H. H., Elhabiby, M. M., Khalil, S. A., & El-Hawary, Y. A. (2018). Sleep profile in anorexia and bulimia nervosa female patients. Sleep medicine, 48, 113-116.

Patients with bulimia and anorexia were studied in both supervised and unsupervised settings. Both anorexia and bulimia patients had trouble sleeping, according to the study’s findings. As a result, sleep deprivation is seen as a sign of an eating problem and is thought to be linked to it.

Vanderminden, J., & Esala, J. J. (2019). Beyond symptoms: Race and gender predict anxiety disorder diagnosis. Society and Mental Health, 9(1), 111-125.  

Research shows that anxiety disorder symptoms and diagnoses are not evenly distributed among racial and socioeconomic categories. Anxiety disorders affect a wide range of underprivileged communities. Affective disorders are more common among Native Americans, Latinos, and whites.

Eddy, K. T., Tabri, N., Thomas, J. J., Murray, H. B., Keshaviah, A., Hastings, E., … & Keel, P. K. (2017). Recovery from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa at 22-year follow-up. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 78(2), 184-189.

Approximately 66% of girls with bulimia or anorexia nervosa were found to be free of their illness by the age of 22. Bulimia nervosa was more quickly remitted, but anorexia nervosa seemed to be more persistent. Patients with any kind of eating problem should not be given long-term palliative care, according to the authors.

References

Boettcher, H., Hofmann, S. G., Wu, Q. J., Bridley, A., Daffin Jr, L. W., Cuttler, C., & Cummings, J. A. (2020). 2.2 Therapeutic Orientations. Abnormal Psychology

Bystritsky, A., Khalsa, S. S., Cameron, M. E., & Schiffman, J. (2013). Current diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 38(1), 30.

Merten, E. C., Cwik, J. C., Margraf, J., & Schneider, S. (2017). Overdiagnosis of mental disorders in children and adolescents (in developed countries). Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 11(1), 5.

Schaumberg Merten, K., Zerwas, S., Goodman, E., Yilmaz, Z., Bulik, C. M., & Micali, N. (2019). Anxiety disorder symptoms at age 10 predict eating disorder symptoms and diagnoses in adolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(6), 686-696.

Schnell, T., Kehring, A., Moritz, S., & Morgenroth, O. (2020). Patients’ responses to diagnoses of mental disorders: Development and validation of a reliable self‐report measure. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, e1854.