Assessing And Treating Clients

Assessing And Treating Clients With Dementia

The Assignment
Examine Case Study: An Elderly Iranian Man With Alzheimer’s Disease.
 
You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this client. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the client’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.
 
At each decision point, there will be three decisions. I will choose one out of the three and give the outcome. At each decision point these are the thoughts to ponder:
 
Decision #1
 
Which decision did you select?
 
Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
 
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
 
Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #1 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
 
Decision #2
 
Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
 
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
 
Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #2 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
 
Decision #3
 
Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
 
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
 
Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #3 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
 
***Also include how ethical considerations might impact your treatment plan and communication with clients.***
 
Finally: 1. Complete the decision tree (keep track of what you selected. come up with a rational reason why you chose it. Come up with patient specific rational reason behind not choosing the other two options not chosen).
 
 
 
2. Write paper addressing all section listed based on the decision tree.
 
 
 
Case Study: Alzheimer’s Disease
                      (76-Year-old Iranian Male)
 
BACKGROUND
Mr. Akkad is a 76 year old Iranian male who is brought to your office by his eldest son for “strange behavior.” Mr. Akkad was seen by his family physician who ruled out any organic basis for Mr. Akkad’s behavior. All laboratory and diagnostic imaging tests (including CT-scan of the head) were normal.
 
 According to his son, he has been demonstrating some strange thoughts and behaviors for the past two years, but things seem to be getting worse. Per the client’s son, the family noticed that Mr. Akkad’s personality began to change a few years ago. He began to lose interest in religious activities with the family and became more “critical” of everyone. They also noticed that things he used to take seriously had become a source of “amusement” and “ridicule.”
 
Over the course of the past two years, the family has noticed that Mr. Akkad has been forgetting things. His son also reports that sometimes he has difficult “finding the right words” in a conversation and then will shift to an entirely different line of conversation. SUBJECTIVE During the clinical interview, Mr. Akkad is pleasant, cooperative and seems to enjoy speaking with you. You notice some confabulation during various aspects of memory testing, so the PMHNP performs a Mini-Mental State Exam. Mr. Akkad scores 18 out of 30 with primary deficits in orientation, registration, attention & calculation, and recall. The score suggests moderate dementia.
 
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
Mr. Akkad is 76 year old Iranian male who is cooperative with today’s clinical interview. His eye contact is poor. Speech is clear, coherent, but tangential at times. He makes no unusual motor movements and demonstrates no tic. Self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect however is restricted. He denies visual or auditory hallucinations. No delusional or paranoid thought processes noted. He is alert and oriented to person, partially oriented to place, but is disoriented to time and event [he reports that he thought he was coming to lunch but “wound up here”- referring to your office, at which point he begins to laugh]. Insight and judgment are impaired. Impulse control is also impaired as evidenced by Mr. Akkad’s standing up during the clinical interview and walking towards the door. When the PMHNP asked where he was going, he stated that he did not know. Mr. Akkad denies suicidal or homicidal ideation.
 
Diagnosis: Major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease (presumptive)
 
RESOURCES § Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., & McHugh, P. R. (2002). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.. 
 
 
Decisions Made and Outcomes (Needed to formulate the paper) (Must use and formulate paper based off of the chosen decision. Then tell why the other two decision were not a good choice with in-text citations noted for each.)
 
 
Choices for Decision 1: Select what the PMHNP should do:
 
Begin Exelon (rivastigmine) 1.5 mg orally BID with an increase to 3 mg orally BID in 2 weeks
 
: Begin Aricept (donepezil) 5 mg orally at BEDTIME
 
Begin Razadyne (galantamine) 4 mg orally BID
 
Decision Choice Chosen: Begin Exelon (rivastigmine) 1.5 mg orally BID with an
increase to 3 mg orally BID in 2 weeks
 
***Explain why other two choice were rejected (not adequate choices)***
 
 
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE
·     Client returns to clinic in four weeks
·     The client is accompanied by his son who reports that his father is “no better” from this medication. He reports that his father is still disinterested in attending religious services/activities, and continues to exhibit disinhibited behaviors
·     You continue to note confabulation and decide to administer the MMSE again. Mr. Akkad again scores 18 out of 30 with primary deficits in orientation, registration, attention & calculation, and recall
Choices for Decision 2: Select what the PMHNP should do:
 
Increase Exelon to 4.5 mg orally BID
 
Increase Exelon to 6 mg orally BID
 
Discontinue Exelon and begin Namenda (memantine) 10 mg orally BID
 
Decision Choice Chosen: Increase Exelon to 4.5 mg orally BID
 
***Explain why other two choice were rejected (not adequate choices)***
 
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO
·     Client returns to clinic in four weeks
·     Client’s son reports that the client is tolerating the medication well, but is still concerned that his father is no better
·     He states that his father is attending religious services with the family, which the son and the rest of the family is happy about. He reports that his father is still easily amused by things he once found serious
 
 
Choices for Decision 3: Select what the PMHNP should do:
 
Increase Exelon to 6 mg orally BID
 
Maintain current dose of Exelon
 
Add Namenda (memantine) 5 mg orally per day
 
Decision Choice Chosen: Increase Exelon to 6 mg orally BID
 
***Explain why other two choice were rejected (not adequate choices)***
 
 
Outcome: Guidance to Student
At this point, the client is reporting no side effects and is participating in an important part of family life (religious services). This could speak to the fact that the medication may have improved some symptoms. The PMHNP needs to counsel the client’s son on the trajectory of presumptive Alzheimer’s disease in that it is irreversible, and while cholinesterase inhibitors can stabilize symptoms, this process can take months. Also, these medications are incapable of reversing the degenerative process. Some improvements in problematic behaviors (such as disinhibition) may be seen, but not in all clients.
At this point, the PMHNP could maintain the current dose until the next visit in 4 weeks, or the PMHNP could increase it to 6 mg orally BID and see how the client is doing in 4 more weeks. Augmentation with Namenda is another possibility, but the PMHNP should maximize the dose of the cholinesterase inhibitor before adding augmenting agents. However, some experts argue that combination therapy should be used from the onset of treatment.
Finally, it is important to note that changes in the MMSE should be evaluated over the course of months, not weeks. The absence of change in the MMSE after 4 weeks of treatment should not be a source of concern.
 
***Write on each decision. Make sure that in each decision choice that you explain why the other two decisions were not good choices. Use cited sources to validate points. Make sure that this paper has at least 7 References. Please use in-text citations for each section of each decision. Don’t forget the ethical considerations for this assignment. Make it a section by itself.***
 
***Also please make sure when looking at the ethical consideration for this assignment that you look at how the Caucasian (male) ethnicity and pain medications interact.***
 
Please use the following format when formulating the paragraphs for each section. Don’t forget the intext citations. Remember to use at least 7 references.
 
Introduction
Decision #1
Reasons for Choosing the Decision (Why is it the best choice out of the 3 choices)
Anticipated Results (of Chosen Decision)
Difference in Results (Anticipated VS Actual)
Decision #2
Reasons for Choosing the Decision (Why is it the best choice out of the 3 choices)
Anticipated Results (of Chosen Decision)
Difference in Results (Anticipated VS Actual)
 
Decision #3
Reasons for Choosing the Decision (Why is it the best choice out of the 3 choices)
Anticipated Results (of Chosen Decision)
Difference in Results (Anticipated VS Actual)
Ethical Considerations
Conclusion
References
 
CHECK OUT THE ATTACHMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION

Assignment: Assessing and Treating Clients With Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association defines dementia as “a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life” (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016). This term encompasses dozens of cognitive disorders of impaired memory formation, recall, and communication. The care and treatment of clients with dementia is dependent on multiple factors, including the stage of dementia, comorbidities, family support, and even the care setting. In your role, as the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, you must be prepared to not only treat clients with these various cognitive disorders, but also the multiple behavioral issues that often accompany them. For this Assignment, as you examine the client case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat clients presenting with dementia.
 
Reference: Alzheimer’s Association. (2016). What is dementia? Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp
 
Learning Objectives
Students will:
· Assess client factors and history to develop personalized therapy plans for clients with dementia
· Analyze factors that influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in clients requiring therapy for dementia
· Evaluate efficacy of treatment plans
· Analyze ethical and legal implications related to prescribing therapy for clients with dementia
Learning Resources
Note:  To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
 
Note: All Stahl resources can be accessed through the Walden Library using this link. This link will take you to a log-in page for the Walden Library. Once you log into the library, the Stahl website will appear.
 
Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
 
To access the following chapter, click on the Essential Psychopharmacology, 4th ed tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate chapter. Be sure to read all sections on the left navigation bar for each chapter.
 
· Chapter 13, “Dementia and Its Treatment”
Stahl, S. M. (2014b). The prescriber’s guide (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
 
To access information on the following medications, click on The Prescriber’s Guide, 5th ed tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate medication.
 
Review the following medications:
For insomnia
· donepezil
· galantamine
· memantine
· rivastigmine
 
Bui, Q. (2012). Antidepressants for agitation and psychosis in patients with dementia. American Family Physician, 85(1), 20–22. Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/journals/afp.html
 
Note: Retrieved from from the Walden Library databases.
 
Meltzer, H. Y., Mills, R., Revell, S., Williams, H., Johnson, A., Bahr, D., & Friedman, J. H. (2010). Pimavanserin, a serotonin receptor inverse agonist for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35, 881–891. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v35/n4/pdf/npp2009176a.pdf
 
Required Media
 
Laureate Education. (2016h). Case study: An elderly Iranian man with Alzheimer’s disease [Interactive media file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
 
Note: This case study will serve as the foundation for this week’s Assignment.
 
To prepare for this Assignment:
· Review this week’s Learning Resources. Consider how to assess and treat clients requiring therapy for dementia.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

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Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, including a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words. Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source. One or two-sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words. I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

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Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately. In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies. Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work). Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

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Familiarize yourself with the APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in Loud-cloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required). Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation. I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

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I discourage over-utilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Master’s level and deduct points accordingly. As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content. It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

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For assignments that need to be submitted to Lopes Write, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me. Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes. Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own? Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in Loud-cloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

• Late Policy

The university’s policy on late assignments is a 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies. Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances. If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect. I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension. As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

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Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class. Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.

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