Medication Paper : Using Lithium Essay

Client comes to treatment because she has been mandated by the court to receive services for her drug and alcohol usage. Client self-reports an extensive history of drug and alcohol usage, as well as, issues with controlling and maintaining her anger. Client is more concerned with her anger issues then her drug and alcohol usage. Client feels that if she can control her anger then she will not have to turn to drugs and alcohol. Client appears to be self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

During my psychiatric clinical rotation at Carney Hospital I had the opportunity to help run group therapy’s where I was able to understand some of the patients better. During this time I was also able to learn more about my patient F.S. The patient is a fifty-two-year-old divorced Chinese woman with a lengthy history of bipolar disorder and a persistent associative history of schizophrenia and attempts at suicide. The patient has one daughter that is 24 years old who noticed F.S. was throwing her pills down the toilet and hiding them in her pockets so she didn’t have to take them. . During her admission, the patient displayed increased levels of incredible energy and mood activities, an approach that was thought to have been instigated by the worsening of her health condition.

Ms. Client is a twenty-two-year-old, Caucasian female was referred for a psychological evaluation by Dr. B., Clinical Psychiatrist and her therapist for her excessive use of cocaine, Xanax and other substances. Dr. B. stated Ms. Client has been experiencing loss of interest, feeling like a failure and frequently crying. Additionally, she complains that her struggle with substance abuse has impacted her social, emotional and behavioral functioning. Ms. Client was admitted to the facility following a relapse. This is her sixth substance abuse treatment program. The purpose of the current evaluation is to (1) assess present level of functioning, (2) determine diagnostic impressions, (3) to identify relevant treatment and service needs.

The patient is a 34 year old black male. The patient reports he is single with 3 daughter ages 3, 11, and 13. The 3 year old live with him. He reports currently live with his mother and brother. The patient reports he has 14 years of education however has not received his degree. The patient reports being on probation for Injury to a child for the next two years. The patient is scheduled to be complete his probation in September 2016. The patient reports Cannabis is primary substances and his last use July 20, 2015. He stated on that day he smoked about 5 joint. The patient also report that he tried Xanax . The patient denies any issues with HI/SI. Patient also reports he is taking his medication as prescribed. The patient appear to be in the pre-contemplation stage of change. The patient next scheduled individual session with the counselor is on Thursday, July 30, 2015 at

Potential ethical issues with this case is the sexuality of the clients but Human service professionals provide services without discrimination or preference based on age, ethnicity, culture, race, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Also obtaining or sharing information with Todd’s psychiatrist Human service professionals protect the integrity, safety, and security of client records. All written client information that is shared with other professionals, except in the course of professional supervision, must have the client 's prior written consent. A legal issue is the fact that Reggie is physical with Todd and although it was the past, if it happened again I must keep in mind If it is suspected that danger or harm may occur to the client or to others as a result of a client 's behavior, the human service professional acts in an appropriate and professional manner to protect the safety of those individuals. This may involve seeking consultation, supervision, and/or breaking the confidentiality of the relationship. Also Reggie smokes marijuana which is not good for urine tests with his parole officer along with Todd’s cocaine use. Human service professionals protect the client 's right to

Crystal was a 43-year-old waitress from three forks. Her husband is a convenience store manager and she currently has her own 2 teenage children living with her as well as a nephew, all of who depend on her and her husband. Thus far she had been in custody for 6 weeks. Crystal had been a lifetime user, when asked what her drug of choice was she gave the response “anything and everything”. Crystal admitted to using meth, coke, weed, pain pills, and heroin intravenously. Her first drug offense happened while living in Missoula at the age of 28 where she started prison almost twelve years ago. Following that sentence Crystal had been sober for six years, until she had to have a hip surgery that led her back down the path of drug abuse. She has many prior offenses and recently served 4 years in prison of a ten year suspended sentence. Had crystal not agreed to drug court there was a possibility that the 10 year sentence by Lewis and Clark county would have been reinstated and she would have gone back to prison for the 6 remaining years of that sentence. After treatment court and her current situation and options had been explained to her Crystal signed a contract and was therefore accepted into the treatment court program. It was explained to her that she must comply with all the requirements of drug court, and she was provided with a backpack containing an alarm clock, day planner, meeting schedule, bus route and schedule, as well as the blue book. The backpack is courtesy of the friends of treatment court, a local group of citizens who want to see participants succeed and return to a normal life. Crystal’s goals after the completion of Treatment court are to finish her degree, and become a productive member of

There is more to the treatment of bipolar disorder than medication, but the medication Lithium has been the primary treatment since the 1960’s. In four studies

Rosa Cunningham (full name is Rosa Lee) is a 53 year old African American female client of average height, slight build, and is appropriately groomed. She has 8 children, 2 of them being female and 6 males, all adults. Rosa is a widow and reached this status after being separated from her deceased husband for many years. Rosa is currently hospitalized for pneumonia, and has been hospitalized several times in her life for diferent illnesses. Rosa’s medical history as self-reported is HIV and seizures. Rosa is a heroin addict and has been this way for several years. Rosa is involved with the local methadone clinic and receives 55mg of methadone daily. Even by receiving this daily dose of methadone, Rosa continues to use heroin. Rosa has several legal and health issues that are present also, despite which she continues to use heroin. Rosa has a lengthy criminal history to include arrests for prostitution, larceny, and selling drugs. The reason for today’s assessment is a referral made by the social worker at the hospital in which Rosa is a patient at and discharge planning is to be made for aftercare.

3. One of the difficulties with the use of lithium to treat bipolar disorder is that patients often stop taking the medication. Discuss three (3) reasons a person who is experiencing bipolar disorder would stop taking this highly effective medication, and what a therapist might do to improve treatment compliance.278

She remember enjoying the experience but reports continued experimentation with drugs two or three times per month until college there she stopped drinking following a binge-drinking episode prior to leaving for college in which she reports drinking until she passed out. Following this incident, she reported finding drinking sickening. Then drugs came into play. She now reports using drugs primarily on occasions, along with alcohol. Last use was two months ago, one glass of wine at a holiday party. No current abuse or dependency on drugs and alcohol. Client reports experimentation with weed in high school when her parents divorced. She did not like the taste or smell and reports it made her sick, so she did not continue. Client reports regular use of pain killers, up to six pills per

D.D. is a 50-year-old, African American male presenting with a number of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The client reports that he came to counseling for “extra support and someone to talk to.” D.D. has been struggling with mental health issues since he was young. Since the age of 15 he has been hospitalized on and off for “hearing voices.” In the early 1980’s he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and prescribed Risperdal to treat the symptoms. Since then, D.D. has been in a variety of mental health settings, including hospitals, day programs, and outpatient treatment. The client has an extensive alcohol and drug use history that he believes impacted his Schizophrenia. In the early 1980’s the client would use alcohol every day “to avoid the voices,” drinking “anything he could get his hands on.” He was also heavily involved with drugs at that time and regularly used marijuana, PCP, cocaine, and heroine. In 2000, the client was sentenced to eight years in jail for four bank robberies. While in jail, D.D. received mental health treatment and alcohol and drug treatment, which was greatly beneficial. When the client was released from jail in 2008, he was drug and alcohol free and was taken off of Risperdal.

History of Present Illness: The patient has been seen in this clinic since 2016. She is diagnosed to have ADHD, Bipolar II disorder, Generalized Anxiety disorder, Alcohol and Cannabis use dependence. The patient has struggled with separation from an abusive ex-husband, who is currently

At times, Kay wrongly felt like she could stop taking the Lithium and she was the

1980). It is not clear why this is, as there does not appear to be

Lithium is a top choice for acute mania and for maintenance in ‘classic’ bipolar disorder. Because of its narrow therapeutic range, blood levels must be monitored; also heart and kidney function (EKG, blood and urine tests). Medications such as diuretics, that block its excretion require caution.