Question

Presenting Problems/Issues:

Patient is a 68 y/o married Hispanic female presenting for psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Patient see with husband. She reports she has been anxious since her early twenties, but since her 36 year old daughter died last year (3/18/17). Patient reports feelings of depression, sadness, lack of focus, tearfulness, hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, anxiety with panic attacks, worthlessness, irritability, forgetfulness, anhedonia, not wanting to leave house, poor sleep, passive suicide ideations, stating “I want to be with my daughter and God.” Convincingly denies plan and intent, stating “I am Catholic and I wouldn’t go to heaven if I took my pills and died.” Denies HI and auditory hallucinations, reports visual hallucinations of daughter. Husband offers collateral information, “she’s even afraid to die and wakes up disoriented at 830 pm and thinks its 830 am.”

Denies history of homicide attempts/ideations. No weapons or firearms at home.

PCP has been prescribing Xanax 1 mg TID ‘for years’ with good effect. Xanax was recently switched to clonazepam 2 mg BID – causing sedation. NJ PMP aware verified.

PCP also prescribed Effexor 75 mg HS 2 months ago and increased dose to 150 mg with poor effect.

Has over the phone grief counseling with insurance company with good effect, attends a support group and is looking forward to beginning a depression program through her insurance company.

Substance Use & Abuse History: (Include substance abuse treatment)

Denies ETOH abuse – ‘just a small drink once a week.’ Denies other history of other illicit drug usage, or abuse of prescription medications.

Former smoker.

Allergies & Adverse Drug Reactions: NKA

Family Psychiatric History:. Denies family history of psych treatment or suicides.

Other Relevant Psychosocial History: (developmental, social, educational, vocational, trauma, etc.)

Lives with Husband who works 2pm – 10 pm+ Married 40 years.

Grieving after loss of daughter (36 y/o living in supportive housing – Dx hydrocephalus)

Employment: Retired 10 years ago. Worked with computers.

Trauma hx: Death of daughter

Emigration to US from Cuba at age 15. Speaks English fluently now.

Denies child abuse/neglect, rapes, domestic violence.

Relevant Legal Issues: No history of arrests or current legal issues reported.

Medical History: (Significant illness and treatment, surgery, head trauma, exposure to toxins, etc.)

Reports ‘stomach issues,” HTN, high cholesterol, COPD, psoriasis. Denies DM and hypothyroidism. Reports cholecystectomy & hysterectomy. Followed by DR XXXXX. Last seen 2 weeks ago. Medically stable. Denies other history of major medical hospitalizations, surgeries, seizures, or concussions reported.

Takes iron infusions, nexum, Losartan, Topral xl, liptor, Advair.

Mental Status Examination:                                                                                                  

            Appearance and Behavior: Well groomed, overweight, cooperative with interviewer

              Affect: sad, tearful

              Mood: “sad”

              Speech: Normal rate, soft spoken, normal production

              Thought:

                Process: Goal directed

                Content: Relevant to conversation

        Delusions: Denies current paranoid delusions

Perception:

   Hallucinations: Denies current auditory hallucinations. Reports seeing deceased daughter.

Suicidal/Violent Ideation, Impulse, Intent: Denies current suicidal/homicidal ideation or plans

              Cognition:

                      Orientation: Alert, awake, oriented x 3

   Memory:   Recent   Intact     Remote:   Intact

                          Abstraction: Age appropriate.

              Judgment, Insight: Insight – good Judgment – good

Patient is proactive in seeking treatment and recognizes the need for medication to stabilize her mood and thoughts

Consumer’s Expressed Interests, Preferences, Strengths and Goals: (Related to behavioral health services, valued roles, and quality of life)

Strengths: proactive, supportive husband

Goals: “To have a life, volunteer.”

Student APN’s Name:

Other information you might want?

Clinical Impressions: (Rationale for diagnosis and recommendations for services)

DSM-5 Diagnosis:                                   

Recommendations:

Labs:

Psychiatric Medications:                                                                                                                                                                                         

Drug:                                            Dose/Schedule:                            Number/Refill:                                           Fact Sheet Given     Other

Rationale for each recommendation:

Teaching:

FOLLOW UP___________________

Answer 1

Student APN's name: XYZ

Other information: None

Clinical Impressions:

According to the DSM 5, the client is exhibiting characteristics matching that of a Major Depressive Disorder. Lack of focus in most activities as well as poor sleep. She is experiencing feelings of sadness, helplessness and hopelessness inspite of having a supportive husband. Although she states that she has no suicidal intent, she suffers from passive suicide ideations. These symptoms have continued for most of the day, every day, for a year. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, panic attacks, worthlessness, irritability, forgetfulness are evident. She appears sad and tearful. In order to assign a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, it must first be established that she meets the criteria for a major depressive episode. The patient exhibited at least five of the symptoms necessary for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode, and in addition these symptoms were present for longer than a two week time period:

1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly everyday as reported. She felt sad day after day, and she is always tearful.
2. Diminished interest and pleasure (anhedonia) and not wanting to go out of the house in almost all activities most of the day, everyday; feeling irritable.
3. Weight gain
4. Insomnia
5. Panic attacks
6. Feelings of inappropriate guilt and worthlessness
7. Lack of focus

Recommendations:

1. Continue antidepressants
2. Psychotherapy
3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
4. Interpersonal therapy
5. Education of patient and family
6. Safe aerobic exercise
7. Behavioural activation

Labs:' CBC,TSH, Vit B-12, Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR), electrolytes, including calcium, phosphate and magnesium, BUN, creatinine,LFTs, blood alcohol level, blood and urine toxicology screen, ABG.

Psychiatric medications: Tricyclics, Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, MAOIs, lithium, heterocyclic antidepressants, benzodiapines like clonazepam, alprazolam or lorapezam, buspirone.

Teaching:

Socialize more often by going out and meeting people, pursue hobbies, talk and vent out feelings, take community help and meet people who have passed through same stages.