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Psychological Approaches Within Mental Health Nursing

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Module No: U41371 Student No: 12035785 Title: Psychological Approaches within Mental health Nursing. Introduction This case study applies the core principles Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as an intervention in management of patients with depression. The outline will follow a chronological order of ABC analysis case formulation describing the patient’s main problems and the therapeutic approaches that may be adopted namely; Behavioural activation (BA), CBT and Inter-personal Therapy (IPT). Followed by a conclusion of the key points discussed. For the purpose of confidentiality the patient name has been changed to John as recommended by Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC (2008). The National Institute for Health and Clinical …show more content…

CBT is based on the theory that an individual’s affect and behaviour is determined by the way he attributes meaning to himself, the world and future. His cognition is based on attitudes and assumptions referred to as schemas developed from earlier childhood experiences (Beck et al 1976). Once schemas are activated, people are inclined to interpret ambiguous situations in problematic ways (Carr and McNulty 2007b). The role of the therapist is to use proper therapeutic techniques to carry out an investigation into the patient’s thinking and feeling, both during and between therapy sessions (Beck et al 1979). Therapists should support and teach patient how to replace problematic behaviours with adaptive ways of thinking, feeling, behaving and interacting (Beck et al 1979). Case study John is a 58 year old gentleman who developed depressive symptoms of low mood, pessimistic thoughts about self, world and future, suicidal ideation, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, sadness and emptiness, low self-esteem, lack of energy, persistent thoughts, and inability to find pleasure in activities which were initially pleasurable (Anhedonia), paranoid and delusional beliefs /thoughts (American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2000, Carr and McNulty 2007a). John had experienced these symptoms for more than two months before he attempted suicide by taking an overdose of Paracetamol

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