Standardized Grouping of the Disorders Related to Mental Illness - Assignment Example

Running Head: MENTAL HEALTH: CASE STUDY Mental Health: Case Study Student Name Institution Date Qn. 1 Which DSM-IV TR criteria are indicative of Sam having a substance abuse disorder? Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health (DSM) is a standardized grouping of the disorders related to mental illness. It is classified into different axis based on their area of specialization, for example, Axis IV is used by the researchers on environmental and psychosocial problems as a tool to collect and communicate the statistics (Sperry, 2006). Sam has some substance related disorders judged by their symptoms, for example, anxiety disorder. He was nervous and worried about losing things around him thus he becomes violent when his boss threatens to fire him from his job. He is also so moody to everyone around him including his own family members and workmates. He seems withdrawn from the social life thus he has no time for friends or anyone else apart fro alcohol. His psychological disorder is expressed by his poor judgement and reasoning thus takes alcohol as a solution to any problem. For an effective DSM-IV analysis, the professionals should consider the three classifications: diagnostic criteria sets, descriptive text and the diagnostic classification (Galanter & Jensen, 2009). Qn. 2 Investigate the epidemiology of substance abuse disorder in Australia. You need to investigate the prevalence/incidences, possible causes, hospitalization rates & burden of disease of substance abuse disorder. Epidemiology of Substance abuse disorder in Australia Mental health disorders and those others caused by the use of illegal substances are very common in Australia. These disorders are caused by lack of proper treatment or excess usage of alcohol or other illicit drugs. According to the report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the survey of mental health of the adults, the data on the prevalence and the patterns of mental disorders shows that more adults are victims due to some environmental factors which cause psychological or mental problems. The assessment done among the individuals with mental disorders or comorbid illness ended up in excess use of alcohol or drugs to overcome the anxiety. The personalities ended up to anxiety, effectiveness and excess consumption of alcohol and other illegal substances (First et al, 2008). Possible causes There are a number of causes of substance abuse in Australia w3hich are resulting to most of the mental illness in adults especially males. Environmental issues is one of the causes, some of the life factors like financial instability or social issues which are difficult to overcome may lead an individual to be involved in use of drugs to avoid concentrating on the difficulties going through. Influence and availability of these substances may also result to its excess consumption of illicit substances which are a threat to the mental health of the individuals using them. Improper medical care can also be counted responsible for development of mental illness. This is because if the medical practitioners are not careful, they are likely to either prescribe the wrong medicine or give a wrong prescription of the medicine hence resulting to medical illness (First & Tasman, 2010). Hospitalization rates and burden of disease of substance abuse disorder There are more cases of mental illness among the adults of Australia who are either under medication or not. These are leading to an increase in the hospitalization rates as well as overcrowding the health centres as either individuals or their relatives seeks medical attention. The medical facilities and resources are not enough to accommodate all the patients hence most of them are treated as outpatients even with complicated conditions others do not enough access mental healthy services due to lack of knowledge both personally or to their relatives (American Psychiatric Association, 2006). The relatives and friends of people are entitled the entire burden to care for the affected including convincing them to accept the reality so as to seek medical attention. They also keep a close eye to ensure that their patients are focused on the medication or on the advice from the professionals (Videbeck, 2010). Qn. 3 Examine the possible causes and psychodynamics behind the development of Sam’s disorder. The assessment of Sam’s disorder reveals possible causes and psychodynamics responsible for the condition. Sam had a bad relationship with his family (wife and kids) thus instead of having good time with them he would spend all his evening taking alcohol, he states that only drink relaxes him and makes him feel good. His excessive drinking is the main cause of the conflict with his family. It seems to be a generic problem since he also speaks of his father being a drunkard and always bashing his mother. He was born a drunkard since his father was also a drunkard and even his breath smelled alcohol. His early drinking was facilitated by the social challenges he witnessed in their family since he had a bad relationship with his father while still a child and his mother was also not spared. Drinking made him forget his encounters although on the other hand it spoiled his psychological status and all the other life factors (Varcarolis et al, 2006). His drinking habit led him to have a bad relationship with his friends and workmates. He showed up later for job and could not complete any allocated duties, he had altercations with his workmates and spent all his free time drinking. The condition came to its peak when his family left and he was fired from job he drunk excess fully and was so violent to his boss so as to avoid his reality and to forget about his painful encounters of worthlessness, guilt and fear (Michele & Stuart 2008). Qn. 4 Sam is experiencing multiple mental health issues. In point for, identify 3 major problems or potential risks. The mental health risks that Sam is experiencing Excessive drinking is likely to cause many health problems both physical and psychological. Liver problem is one of the physical disorders that are likely to befall Sam. Others like reduced fertility and heart problems are common and results to psychological issues. Sam is likely to have a short term memory hence he will keep on forgetting things or lack concentration on duties assigned and that is why he hardly completes his duties (Boyd, 2007). He feels insecure and is so fast to defend his personality thus he is argumentative or threatens to attach his boss when he is fired from job or has verbal quarrels with his colleagues. He makes poor judgements or reasoning especially when people try to portray to his bad drinking habit. He says that he drinks like his father and that alcohol is good since it makes him forget his painful past or get rid of the loneliness after losing his family. HE also suffers from lack of self control especially on the rate of drinking; he spends all his free time drinking excessively (Barry & Farmer, 2007). Qn. 5 Discuss nursing interventions in management of these mental problems or potential risks, include pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions and reference to literature Nursing interventions to manage the mental problems Watkins (2005) argues that there are various medical interventions to be considered to overcome the mental problems and the potential risks encountered by Sam. Before any other rehabilitation initiative is considered, it is necessary to have a guidance and counselling session to convince the victim to accept the reality and consider any positive step meant to improve the status. An assessment of the physical and mental conditions of the affected will be done to determine the effects of substances hence identify the necessary medical recommendations to be made. There is need for him to be admitted as inpatient so as to have humble time with the doctors or be isolated from the environment where alcohol is available hence the individual is not tempted to have a drink (Scott, 2004). Some medications will be prescribed to him to reduce the concentration of alcohol in blood and also reduce the craving for alcohol. Close study of the conditions of the patient enables the specialised to understand his records and the possible causes of the condition thus they will be able to guide him on the positive measures to live a reformed and good life. He will be referred to the psychoanalyst who will decide whether a therapist is necessary or not although I guess it is for the purpose of analysing the mental condition of the victim. The process will also make it possible for the professionals to determine the treatment to prescribe to the patient (Mardi, 2001). Qn. 6 Provide a rationale for each nursing intervention and reference to literature Rationale for the nursing interventions The only and most considered way of healing the disorders caused by the illicit drugs is through rehabilitation. All the possible ways of stopping or discouraging the victim from drinking are tried or he is encouraged to live a reformed and positive life. The victim should be convinced to accept the reality that he has a problem which needs to be addressed by medical practitioners hence he is expected to cooperate with them and adhere to their advice (Fauman, 2008). There are many related mental complications whose treatment is specific. This means that a thorough screening should be done to identify the exact complicated for the most effective treatment. The patient should be referred to the psychoanalyst or therapist for assessment and prescription of the best medication for the problem. He should be let to stay in the health centre for a while for a close eye of the doctor for the necessary support and supervision of the progress of the condition and to ensure that he is focused on the prescriptions given. The fact that the breath of the patient smelled alcohol shows that its concentration in blood was too high and needed some medication to be purified. They can also reduce the craving of alcohol since the patient has no control over it (Shives, 2007). References Varcarolis M., Verna B. & Shoemaker N. (2006). Foundations of psychiatric mental health nursing: a clinical approach. Michigan: Elsevier Saunders. Michele T. & Stuart G. (2008). Principles and practice of psychiatric nursing. Michigan: Elsevier Mosby. Watkins, P. (2005). Mental health nursing: the art of compassionate care. Michigan: Elsevier Health Sciences. Scott, R. (2004). Our Inner World: A Guide to Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy. Boston: John Hopkins University Press. Mardi, J. (2001). Cognitive Psychodynamics – from Conflict to Character. New York: Wiley. American Psychiatric Association. (2006). Quick reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM- IV-TR: American Medical Journal. 43(36): 34-40. First, M. & Tasman, A. (2010). Clinical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Fauman, M. (2008). Study guide to DSM-IV-TRA. New York: American Psychiatric Pub. Sperry, L. (2006). Handbook of diagnosis and treatment of DSM-IV-TR personality disorders. Austria: Penguin Publishers. Galanter, C. & Jensen, P. (2009). DSM-IV-TR Casebook and Treatment Guide for Child Mental Health. London: SAGE. First, M., Allen, F., & Pincus, H. (2008). DSM-IV-TR handbook of differential diagnosis. New York: American Psychiatric Pub. Shives, L. (2007). Basic concepts of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Bradford: HarperCollins. Videbeck, S. (2010).Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. London: SAGE. Boyd, M. (2007). Psychiatric nursing: contemporary practice. Boston: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Barry, P. & Farmer, S. (2007). Mental health & mental illness. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More