Conceptual Model in Mental Health Nursing - Case Study Example

Conceptual Model in Mental Health Nursing You're Conceptual Model in Mental Health Nursing Introduction The current client under discussion in this literature is in need of support from mental health care providers to assist him with reintegration into the community. His diagnosis clearly defines him as suffering from delusions, signs of paranoid schizophrenia, and is experiencing auditory, visual, and tactile hallucinations as well. The service provider's could easily point out that much of the mental health problems have been stemming from this clients past sociological environment and his current living conditions as well. Because of the socioeconomic factors, there are adverse areas in his treatment mainly due to the obstacles that Western traditions are presenting. For instance, the client is having a difficult time reorienting himself into his Muslim culture. Basically this client needs the service providers to establish a health model that will provide him with more information about his mental health illness and give him clear perspectives concerning the form of treatment that would be best for him. A good percentage of information and research shows that the psychodynamic model would be good for him because it would help him come to accept his situation fully and then would allow for him to be able to cope and be involved in the decision making areas of his treatment process. This would allow him to be able to fulfill his desire of continuing his education as he would be more comprehensive about what his illness entails and what to expect from the mental health care providers with regards to his treatment. Of course this does not mean that he won't require a supportive environment to help with the emotional pressures that he has to face. The utilization of the psychodynamic model can bring a better enlightenment into all of these issues, not just for this client but for the service providers as well. The Reasoning for Choosing the Psychodynamic Model for this Client This client suffers from many repressed memories which have led to him developing a mental health illness that is ultimately crippling his ability to cope with his emotions and daily activities in society. The psychodynamic model is very useful in bringing about awareness within client's, concerning their past circumstances that are either adverse or even positive (Blum 2003). This is done in stages and carries with it a very humanistic appeal which in many ways shelters the client but not to the point of overshadowing their memories that are being brought forth. This model deals with the patient on a very humane and caring basis, recognizing them as human beings who need help and have needs just as anyone else (Gabbard 2004). The main reasoning behind choosing it is this client is already suffering from depression, schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, false auditory and visual perceptions and other troubling problems as well. It is believed that the psychodynamic model will allow for the service providers to get to the root causes of the problem and thus facilitate means to assist the client in dealing with these repressed memories and current daily problems as well. The Psychodynamic Model and it's Advantages It has been unquestionably proven that the psychodynamic model is very helpful for the service providers as it helps them in acquiring a firmer understanding of all of the needs of the service user (Smith 2002). For this client in particular this is extremely important as there are a multitude of issues that are taking place which in fact are complicating his illness and treatment process. Furthermore, the psychodynamic approach is far better in assisting this client for many other reasons other than what has been stated as well. While some mental health care models only look at the medical circumstances, the psychodynamic approach looks at socioeconomic and personal causes as being probable reasons why a specific mental breakdown occurs. It also draws upon more humanistic ideals, more so than other models do which views the client as more of a person rather than an object (Bateman et al 2000). What also makes the psychodynamic approach more powerful for this client and others like him who are suffering with similar mental health issues is the fact that it brings hidden conscious thoughts to the forefront of the mind. This allows the service provider to be able to facilitate treatment for underlying emotional issues that were beforehand unknown about. Ultimately the psychodynamic model brings unconscious thoughts to the conscious where they can be dealt with appropriately and therefore there can be a far better understanding of why certain mental health problems might be taking place (Fonagy 1999). Therefore, for this client the psychodynamic model will allow him to address his personal issues in an environment that is professional but that is not judgmental of his mental health ailments nor his behaviors due to them (Bond & Culley 2004). Many of the other models and approaches do not have a humanistic essence within them like this model apparently does. More fluently, the psychodynamic model brings about the insights that are hidden in an understanding and therapeutic manner. Thus this is allowing for them to influence his psychodevelopment and thus bring about the ability to work to improve upon the main mental health ailment in particular. The Disadvantages of the Psychodynamic Model The only disadvantage of the psychodynamic approach could be that it focuses more on counseling as an aid and claims that internalized/externalized relationships are the main causes for many mental health illnesses (Jacobs 2004). Often times this model associates past circumstances with mental illness such as abuse as a child as the cause of split personality disorder. Or alcohol abuse as being the root cause of developing a mental illness such as schizophrenia. Although these can be causes for each of these mental health problems they are not always the root problems. However psychodynamic theory is so focused on bringing the unconscious conflicts and emotions to the surface that it ignores the possibility of their being another probability for the mental health disturbance. However, unlike psychoanalysis, it does help clients deal with present problems that might be complicating their mental illness. This could be problems in the workplace, relationships, or even issues with non-human objects (Joyce & McCallum 2004). Another disadvantage that is plausible about this model is the fact that it can make a service user believe that a suppressed memory that they have is actual and did take place when really it could be a figment of their imagination due to their illness (Stickley & Nickeas 2006). This has been an area of controversy for this model for a number of years due to the complications that can arise from what is defined as "false memory syndrome" (Warne & McAndrew 2005). For this client it could complicate his treatment in many adverse ways because he is already dealing with a myriad of suppressed memories that are indeed factual. However, if one were to be suggested to him to be a figment of his imagination then he would begin questioning all of the memories that have arisen through his treatment and thus become skeptical of his own possible recovery or stability of his illness. The point is traumatic memories can become jumbled and unclear for the patient. Sometimes the counseling and practices that are involved in the psychodynamic model only confuse a patient more as their repressed memories can become even more troubling and confusing to them. This is perhaps why many researchers claim that a multidisciplinary approach/model is more reliable than just utilizing the psychodynamic model alone. A multidisciplinary approach can be a safety net for other models that are implemented. For instance, while one model might be good for therapy for mental illnesses such as split personality disorder, another might be more viable for the treatment of schizophrenia. This is exactly why a multidisciplinary approach fills the niche for some mental health treatment programs and processes. Conclusion Psychodynamic theory concerns itself with the conscious and unconscious self. According to the authors, psychodynamic is integrative and comprehensive in its approach in responding to situations that the client experiences. Psychodynamic theory helps the therapist whether he/she is a professional or an individual working in relation with the client in any other kind of organizations, to understand the problems that may or may not originate from the current patterns of transference. Transference refers to the association that clients form with the therapist and transfer the negative or positive reactions to the objects in their internal or external situations. Psychodynamic theory deals not only with personal issues and problems but it also helps the client to deal with problems at the workplace, in relationships and with the non-human objects. This dynamic nature of psychodynamic is what makes it unique and distinct from psychoanalysis which focuses on emotions and past experiences only. Instead psychodynamic studies the past, the present and how the factors influence the future actions of individuals. It helps the individual to develop an awareness of the conscious and the unconscious. This model will then ultimately help this client move past their repressed memories and orchestrate ways he can overcome them and thus begin healing. Matter of factly, it will help him accept why he developed such a debilitating mental illness and encourage him to continue in ways that will provide a good quality of life for him through medication and counseling services. Biomedical model Behavioral model- change maladaptive behavior through the principles of learning Cognitive model- change thoughts and feelings which cause maladaptive behavior and mood Notes 1. Bateman, Anthony & Brown, Dennis & Fedder, Johnathan, Introduction to Psychotherapy: An Outline of Psychodynamic Principles and Practices (New York: Routledge Press, 2000), 77. 2. Blum, Harold, "Repression, Transference, and Reconstruction," The International Journal of Psychoanalysis 84 (2003): 497-503. 3. Bond, Tim & Culley, Sue, Integrative Counseling Skills in Action (New York: Sage Publications, 2004), 111. 4. Gabbard, Glenn, Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Basic Text (Washington: Psychiatric Publishing, 2004), 210. 5. Jacobs, Michael, Psychodynamic Counseling in Action (New York: Sage Publications, 2004), 157. 6. Joyce, Anthony & McCallum, Mary, Assessing Patient Capacities for Therapy: Psychological Mindedness and Quality of Object Relations (New York: Lawrence Erlbaum & Associates, 2004), 64. 7. Smith, J, Understanding Health and Social Care: Power and Vulnerability in Care Relationships (Oxford: The Open University Press, 2002), 89. 8. Stickley, T & Nickeas, R, "Becoming One Person: Living with Disassociative Identity Disorder," Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 13 (2006): 180-187. 9. Warne, T & McAndrew, S, "The Shackles of Abuse: Unprepared to Work at the Edges of Reason," Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 12 (2005): 679-686. Read More