Psychosis as a Mental Condition - Coursework Example

VIGNETTE ANALYSIS TWO Vignette Analysis Two Formulating the Differential Diagnosis The field of medicine has rapidly grown in the last decades. The concept of Differential diagnosis is one of the foundations that have promoted new developments in the world of medicine. The concept is in diagnosing patients to come up with a list of ailments that a patient may be undergoing. In the diagnosis, the idea of probabilities is used where the possible illnesses are rated based on the level of acuteness. A majority of the physicians apply data collected from the patients to come with the potential ailments that a patient may be having. Also, physicians may use a broad range of methods to try and establish the potential diseases a patient may be undergoing. It may include the physical appearance, speech or even movements. One of the most common methods that are used involves the X-ray scanning (Comer, 2014, p. 83). Diagnosing Sara entails listing the potential ailments that she is undergoing and then giving a ballpark figure of their likeliness. Sara has comorbid disorders that have adversely affected her in discharging the duties assigned by the employer. Despite being underweight, the lady has formed a tendency of wearing baggy clothes to work. In addition, she is currently taking mood stabilizers and other medication. Furthermore, she sometimes hallucinates and ends up cutting herself. Her attitude towards work also indicates that she is a careless personality. The information provided regarding Sara and family background, it can be suggested that Sara is a psychotic. The DSM 5 Checklist for Psychotic patients outlines information that can be used to make a conclusive report whether a patient is a psychotic. The checklist provides many symptoms that can be in concluding that a patient is psychotic. The most prevalent symptoms include substance abuse, mood disorder, and severe levels of stress, delirium, dementia and schizophrenia. Likely Cause Sara 1.Severe Stress  2.Mood Disorder  3.Dementia Ø 4.Delirium  5.Shizophrenia  6.Substance Abuse   =can be seen Ø=rare or never Source: (Comer, 2014, p. 99). According to the DSM 5 Checklist above, Sara can be considered to be suffering from psychosis. Patient suffering from the ailments shows the symptoms that have been indicated in the table. For instance, Sara tested positive for amphetamine a drug administered to patients who have sleeping disorders. According to her medical history, there is no specific point in time where it was reported that she once had a sleeping disorder. Consequently, the positive test for the drug is pure evidence that she has been abusing substances. Also, from her medical history, it has been stated that she took anti-psychotic medications to control her mood disorders. A majority of psychotic patients primarily shoe similar symptoms. They do not have a consistent attitude and are easily offended. Sara has been experiencing mood swings from her childhood. The death of her grandmother during hers tender age psychologically affected her since she was very intimate with her. Consequently, she developed a weird habit later on life where she started self-abusing. Furthermore, the death of her grandmother brought her trauma. The spirits of her grandmother were tormenting her something developed severe stress in her. Moreover, Sara appears to witness the spirits of her late grandmother a condition that is as schizophrenia. According to numerous pieces of evidence that have been gathered, it has been established that psychological diagnosis entails evaluating the presence of stress disorders and other factors. Medical practitioners search the presence of the symptoms that have been presented to make a conclusion that a patient is suffering from psychosis. According to all the details that have been provided about Sara’s medical background it is right to conclude that Sara is a psychotic (Comer, 2014, p. 99). Models of Abnormality There are some models that have been developed try and explain abnormality. Comer, (2014) developed a model to describe the mental condition that has become common in the American society. The cases of defect have become common especially among the youth. An abnormality is a condition that is prevalent among the children and geriatrics. Sara’s case is not different from the cases reported on a daily basis in America. Comer, (2014, pp 54-70) suggests that abnormality arises as a result of brain disorders. It occurs as a consequence of a disease in particular parts of the brain. He developed several models to try to explain the causes of abnormality. The biological model suggest that abnormality arises have a result of a defect in a particular part of the body, mainly the brain. He proposed that the main therapy for defect based on the model included drug therapy, neurosurgery, and Electroconvulsive Therapy. A majority of the practitioners have accepted the theory although they claim it is too simplistic. Also, the psychodynamic model exists. The model suggests that abnormality arise as a result of intrinsic forces that the individual is unaware. The forces are at antagonism something that leads to deformity. The therapy for such cases of defect includes free association, catharsis and working through among others. The model is considered effective because it considers psychological theories. However, it is hard to research. Other examples include the behavioral model, the cognitive model, and the socio-cultural, model among others (Comer, 2014, pp.54-70). Assignment Outcomes Youths are the most victims of abnormality cases that are in America. Therefore, we determine the results of Sara’s condition. From the assignments, it shows that young youths who experience psychotic disorder have no ability to understand themselves. It is hard for them to seek out help by themselves and have no willingness to give explanations on what they are undergoing. Consequently, professors dealing with such cases experienced by young people can quickly identify the youths undergoing the problem. The sequence and outcome in psychotic disorder differ from one person to the other. To make the diagnosis clear and ruling out prospective medical cases, young people are examined. It involves a specialist in mental health who interviews the patient as well as medical tests. The law in a state ensures child protection by requiring that for someone to be a specialist dealing with such patient’s one must have a license. The license ensures that one is liable for his/her operations outcomes (Comer, 2014, pp.144). Saras condition could have been controlled in the early stages to ensure that it does not get worse. Results can be successful but if not treated well the degree of relapse will be high. It might be due to the surrounding environment of the patient. Social isolation, anxiety and depression relate to the improvement and continuation of delusional distress and hallucinations. Therefore, clinically it is clear that the introduction of behavioral pursuit improves affect and social network. It also leads to a reduction of isolation. The condition that Sara and other young adults experience can at times be of high risk to the society as their actions may cause harm to people. According to law, such damage resulting from the disorder will be taken as ailment (Siegenthaler, 2007, pp. 12). Existing Theories of Psychopathology Theories have been developed on psychopathology. They include the psychoanalytic theory, developmental theory, the interpersonal theory and the humanistic theory among others. Under the humanistic theory, the famous Abraham Maslow hierarchy of needs exists. According to the theory, human beings have needs that they strive to meet. Once they achieve the need they are satisfied, and they start being motivated to make another need (Comer, 2014, p.641). Evaluation of Legal and Ethical Issues The decision by the employer to suspend Sara raises ethical and legal issues. Sara’s productivity might have declined as a result of the mental condition, the decision to suspend her raises and moral dilemma. The primary objective of the Human Resource Departments is to achieve optimal productivity. However, they need to consider the welfare of their employees. Although, Sara’s condition had deteriorated over time, the decision to suspend her sparks an ethical discussion. Instead of the employers suspending her, they should try to find a therapy to her predicament. The role of any organization is to create an enabling working environment for their employees irrespective of the conditions that they go through in life. Therefore, employers need to be considerate of the welfare of their employees instead of discriminating them because of their mental conditions. Companies need to follow the example of Microsoft that recently started to hire candidates who have been with autism. The move was implemented to give a chance to individuals who are talented but have the mental condition to showcase their talent. Besides, Sara is entitled to sue her employer since the labor policies require employers to safeguard the interest of their employees and should not discriminate them (Microsoft, 2015, paras.3-13). Although employees such as Sara may be undergoing severe mental illnesses, they also have some positive contribution. Therefore, employers should come up with effective policies that can support them in carrying organizational duties (Siegenthaler, 2007, pp.1-10). One of the ethical issues that face medical practitioners is telling the truth to patients such as Sara, who have acute mental conditions. Given the mood disorder that Sara undergoes on a frequent basis, an ethical dilemma arises as to whether she should be the truth. If Sara is the truth, she might not come back to seek medication. Also, it is ethical to involve Sara’s relatives in the matter since they understand her family background (Comer, 2014, p.590). Impact of Culture and Human Diversity Issues The cultural practices of the society influence how people undergoing mental conditions such as Sara are treated. The diverse culture beliefs and practices of the population in the community may be in coming up with appropriate therapies for patients with mental conditions. Medical practitioners need understand cultural diversity so that they can come up with a remedy that is readily acceptable to all groups of people. For a very long time, individuals with mental conditions such as Sara have been isolated from the community. In some African American society, individuals with the mental condition are considered to be a curse. Furthermore, individuals with mental conditions are sometimes locked in houses so that they cannot interact with others (Comer, 2014, p.31). According to the Journal of Health Science (2012), culture plays an imperative role in indicating symptoms on a patient with a psychotic condition. In most of the cases, cultural diversity is considered as the primary factor that indicates a change in symptoms. The culture of a patient influences the results of a diagnosis process and other recommendations made by the medical practitioners. The cultural practices of a patient and the medics conducting the diagnosis influence the outcome (Siegenthaler, 2007, pp.2-10). Combining Current Research Extensive research has been conducted on psychosis and other mental conditions. Some of the phenomena’s are yet to be understood. Current research work indicates early intervention to some of the medical conditions can control the case of mental conditions that have been on the rise in the recent years. Furthermore, it has been established that fish oil can be used to control the mental condition from developing. Also, the researcher recommends that children who are among the most vulnerable groups should take the oil to prevent psychosis (Banerjee, 2012, pp.18-20). Psychosis can be avoided using lurasidone. The medication was introduced back in 2011 on the recommendation of FDA. Although the drug has been found to be effective, it also has its shortcomings. Also, so far no drugs have existed that can be recommended to treat the condition but lurasidone is among the best medication. It is also important to note drugs are not the only solution that can be used to curb cases of psychosis. The stakeholders of public health need to conduct a massive civic education program to make public awareness about the condition. Once awareness has been created, the public will avoid victimizing patients undergoing mental conditions such as Sara. Besides, it is important to encourage social support for people who are suffering such cases. Social support will motivate patient with the mental condition to come out publically and state their status. Furthermore, the move will enable them receive financial assistance so that they can seek specialized treatment (Berzoff et al., 2011, pp.10-17). Analysis and Evaluation of Information Psychosis is a mental condition that affects both young children and geriatrics in the society. Sara is an example of a person who has undergone a lot of trauma in her life as a result of the condition. It is imperative to demystify some of the stereotypes that people have on individuals with mental conditions. The society needs to accommodate persons with such mental condition given that it is not their wish to be in such a state. Also, it is important to come up with appropriate medication for them so that they can be (Comer, 2014, p.133). References Banerjee, A. (2012).Georgetown University: Journal of Health Sciences.Vol.6, No.2:18-24. Berzoff, J., Flanagan, L. & Hertz, P. (2011). Inside out and outside in: psychodynamic clinical theory and psychopathology in contemporary multicultural contexts. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Comer, R. J. (2014). Abnormal psychology. New York: Worth. Microsoft, (2015).Microsoft Announces Pilot Program to Hire People with Autism. [26.5.2015]. < http://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2015/04/03/microsoft-announces-pilot-program-to-hire-people-with-autism/> Siegenthaler, W. (2007). Differential diagnosis in internal medicine from symptom to diagnosis. Stuttgart New York: Thieme. Read More