6630 Week 1 Psycho pharmacologic Treatments

Instructions

Address the following 6630 Week 1 Psycho pharmacologic Treatments Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week. To the Learning Resources for this week.

1. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse. Which drugs are contraindicated, if any, and why? Be specific. What is the timeframe that the patient should see the resolution of symptoms?
2. List 4 predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder.
3. List 4 potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression.
4. An episode of major depression is a period of time lasting at least 2 weeks. List at least 5 symptoms required for the episode to occur. Be specific.
5. List 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia. Be specific.

Week learning resources

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disordersLinks to an external site. (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
• Fernandez-Mendoza, J., & Vgontzas, A. N. (2013). Insomnia and its impact on physical and mental health. Current Psychiatry ReportsLinks to an external site., 15(12), 418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0418-8
• Levenson, J. C., Kay, D. B., & Buysse, D. J. (2015). The pathophysiology of insomnia. ChestLinks to an external site., 147(4), 1179–1192. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388122/
• Morgenthaler, T. I., Kapur, V. K., Brown, T. M., Swick, T. J., Alessi, C., Aurora, R. N., Boehlecke, B., Chesson, A. L., Friedman, L., Maganti, R., Owens, J., Pancer, J., & Zak, R. (2007). Practice parameters for the treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias of central origin. SLEEPLinks to an external site., 30(12), 1705–1711. https://j2vjt3dnbra3ps7ll1clb4q2-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PP_Narcolepsy.pdf
• Morgenthaler, T. I., Owens, J., Alessi, C., Boehlecke, B, Brown, T. M., Coleman, J., Friedman, L., Kapur, V. K., Lee-Chiong, T., Pancer, J., & Swick, T. J. (2006). Practice parameters for behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children. SLEEPLinks to an external site., 29(1), 1277–1281. https://j2vjt3dnbra3ps7ll1clb4q2-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PP_NightWakingsChildren.pdf
• Sateia, M. J., Buysse, D. J., Krystal, A. D., Neubauer, D. N., & Heald, J. L. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep MedicineLinks to an external site., 13(2), 307–349. https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/pdf/10.5664/jcsm.6470
• Winkleman, J. W. (2015). Insomnia disorder. The New England Journal of MedicineLinks to an external site., 373(15), 1437–1444. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1412740

 

 

6630 Week 1 Psycho pharmacologic Treatments

Answer

1. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain the appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse. Which drugs are contraindicated, if any, and why? Be specific. What is the timeframe that the patient should see the resolution of symptoms?

For a patient with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and a history of alcohol abuse, it is appropriate to use a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). These medications can effectively treat MDD and have a low risk of adverse reactions to alcohol. However, alcohol should be avoided while taking these medications. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) should be avoided due to the potential for adverse effects with alcohol. Symptoms may improve after 2-4 weeks of starting medication, but it can take up to 12 weeks to see a full response.

References: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

2. List 4 predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder.

Late-onset Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has been associated with factors such as female gender, marital status (widowed or divorced), lower education level, and chronic medical conditions.

Reference: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

3. List 4 potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression.

The potential neurobiological causes of psychotic major depression include altered activity in the prefrontal cortex, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reduced hippocampal volume, and abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine and serotonin.

Reference: Levenson, J. C., Kay, D. B., & Buysse, D. J. (2015). The pathophysiology of insomnia. Chest, 147(4), 1179–1192. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388122/

4. An episode of major depression is defined as a period of time lasting at least 2 weeks. List at least 5 symptoms required for the episode to occur. Be specific.

An episode of major depression is defined by the presence of at least 5 of the following symptoms for at least 2 weeks: depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, impaired concentration or indecisiveness, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Reference: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

5. List 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia. Be specific. 

Three classes of drugs that can precipitate insomnia are stimulants (e.g., caffeine, amphetamines), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (e.g., fluoxetine).

References: Fernandez-Mendoza, J., & Vgontzas, A. N. (2013). Insomnia and its impact on physical and mental health. Current Psychiatry Reports, 15(12