Assignment 1:
Application: Considering Alternative Treatment Options for Anxiety Disorders
Imagine that you have been seeing a client for 4 months. During treatment you learn that he has been 5 years sober but lately has felt an intense sense of anxiety and has requested a referral to a psychiatrist. Upon returning to his counseling sessions you learn that the psychiatrist has prescribed diazepam a benzodiazepine. You are aware of the fact that the benzodiazepine functions similarly to alcohol in the body. You are concerned about a relapse because of this newly prescribed medication for the anxiety disorder.
Sometimes the medication a doctor chooses to treat a clients symptoms is ineffective or inappropriate or it may not create the desired effect without intolerable side effects. Under what circumstances does it become necessary for a mental health professional to advocate for an alternative treatment for a client? What ethical issues associated with client treatment would mental health professionals need to address? Why would a release of information be needed?
For this Assignment view the media case study titled Anxiety Disorder Case Study: Mary. Assume the role of a mental health professional to respond to the client call. Review the medication that the psychiatrist prescribed and explain the expected effects and side effects of its use. Plan a treatment strategy.
In a 2- to 3-page APA-formatted paper include the following:
o An explanation of any concerns ethical or otherwise you may have regarding the clients generalized anxiety disorder treatment
o An explanation of the factors you would take into consideration in developing a strategy to treat the clients generalized anxiety disorder
o An explanation of a treatment strategy for the clients generalized anxiety disorder along with a justification for your strategy
o An explanation of how you would advocate for your treatment strategy
References (use 3 or more)
Laureate Education (Producer). (2012b).Anxiety disorder case study: Mary: Generalized anxiety disorder[Video file]. Baltimore MD: Author.
Caputo F. & Bernardi M. (2010). Medications acting on the GABA system in the treatment of alcoholic patients.Current Pharmaceutical Design16(19) 21182125.
Lichtblau L. (2011).Psychopharmacology demystified. Clifton Park NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Preston J. D. ONeal J. H. & Talaga M. C. (2017).Handbook of clinical psychopharmacology for therapists(8th ed.).Oakland CA: New Harbinger.
American Psychiatric Association (2013).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). Arlington VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013).Highlights of changes from DSM IV-TR to DSM-5. Retrieved fromhttp://www.dsm5.org/Documents/changes%20from%20dsm-iv-tr%20to%20dsm-5.pdf