Examine Case Study: An Elderly Hispanic Man with Major Depressive Disorder. 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 clientâ€s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

• At each decision point stop to complete the following:
  • 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.

Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of Five academic resources. While you may use the course text to support your rationale, it will not count toward the resource requirement.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The client is a 32-year-old Hispanic American male who came to the United States when he was in high school with his father. His mother died back in Mexico when he was in school. He presents today to the PMHNPs office for an initial appointment for complaints of depression. The client was referred by his PCP after “routine” medical work-up to rule out an organic basis for his depression. He has no other health issues with the exception of some occasional back pain and “stiff” shoulders which he attributes to his current work as a laborer in a warehouse.

SUBJECTIVE

During todayâ€s clinical interview, client reports that he always felt like an outsider as he was “teased” a lot for being “black” in high school. States that he had few friends, and basically kept to himself. He describes his home life as “good.” Stating “Dad did what he could for us, there were 8 of us.” He also reports a remarkably diminished interest in engaging in usual activities, states that he has gained 15 pounds in the last 2 months. He is also troubled with insomnia which began about 6 months ago, but have been progressively getting worse. He does report poor concentration which he reports is getting in “trouble” at work.

MENTAL STATUS EXAM

The client is alert, oriented to person, place, time, and event. He is casually dressed. Speech is clear, but soft. He does not readily make eye contact, but when he does, it is only for a few moments. He is endorsing feelings of depression. Affect is somewhat constricted, but improves as the clinical interview progresses. He denies visual or auditory hallucinations, no overt delusional or paranoid thought processes readily apparent. Judgment and insight appear grossly intact. He is currently denying suicidal or homicidal ideation. The PMHNP administers the “Montgomery- Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)” and obtained a score of 51 (indicating severe depression).

RESOURCES

§ Montgomery, S. A., & Asberg, M. (1979). A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 382-389.

Decision Point One

Begin Phenelzine 15 mg orally TID

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE

• Client returns to clinic in four weeks
• Client reports that he was rushed to the Emergency Room 2 weeks ago after collapsing at the warehouse where he works. He was taken by ambulance to the local community hospital. He was diagnosed with postural hypotension
• Client was treated with fluid bolus and told to stop taking his phenelzine and to follow up with his primary care provider within one week, and his PMHNP within that same time frame

Decision Point Two

Re-start Phenelzine 7.5 mg orally TID

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO

• Client returns to clinic in four weeks
• Client reported that he still has a little dizziness
• Client also reports that that his depression has improved greatly (a 35% decrease in MADR scale from 51 to 33)

Decision Point Three

Continue current drug dose and counsel client on dietary modifications and orthostatic hypotension safety

Guidance to Student
The initiation of an SSRI or SNRI should not begin until an adequate “wash out” period of MAOI- this is generally defined as the time it takes for 5 half-lives of the drug to be metabolized. Co-administration of SSRI, SNRI, or TCA with MAOI is contraindicated as it can cause serotonin syndrome and can actually be fatal. The PMHNP can continue the current dose and counsel client as to dietary modifications as well as orthostatic hypotension safety, however, it should be remembered that he works in a warehouse and may be at risk for falls/injury due to orthostatic hypotension. A “watch and wait” approach may be appropriate if the client has failed all other antidepressants. Increasing the dose back to 15 mg orally TID is not indicated as his orthostatic hypotension will likely worsen.

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