Abstract
Anxiety
disorders are common types of psychological illnesses. The key symptoms that
Jim experienced include excessive worrying, sleeping problems, and the difficulty
when speaking in public. The diagnosis should be based on the DSM-IV criteria.
Initial interventions should be comprised of psychosocial strategies. The SNRI
is the first line of treatment for anxiety. Benzodiazepines can also be used
and their side effects include confusion, drowsiness, impaired coordination,
and vision problems. This class of drugs works by enhancing the activity of
GABA.
Keywords:
Anxiety, initial intervention, neurobiological action, side effects.
Case Studies
Psychological
conditions are among the most common types of illness affecting the modern
society. Some of them (including anxiety) result from the body’s response to
stress. Jim is a client whose condition has made necessary to delegate the
family’s social responsibilities to his wife. This paper provides the analysis
of the case study of Jim who is a patient suffering from anxiety with a focus
on the effective treatment.
Symptoms of
Anxiety
Jim
experiences several symptoms. The first one is excessive worrying that is
confirmed by fear that the family income might suffer. Jim also feared what
would happen ones the wife got ill, given that she assumed most of the social
responsibilities. Secondly, Jim is experiencing difficulty in sleeping. The
last symptom is lack of sufficient confidence to speak in public.
Diagnostic
Screenings
Jim
can be screened through the psychological evaluation, which will focus on the
identification of the key symptoms. This should be followed by the comparison
of the identified signs with the DSM-5 criteria. This tool will help the
healthcare provider take the psychological and cognitive symptoms presented by
the patient into account. The screening will help the providers rule out the
possibility of other psychological conditions and pay attention to the
treatment of anxiety.
Initial
Interventions
The
intervention selected to assist the client in this case study should be able to
empower the patient to manage the condition and lead a fulfilling life. Psychosocial
therapy is the initial intervention for the treatment of anxiety. It should
always be considered before the therapists can think about the prescription of
any medication when treating anxiety or other psychological condition. The
efforts made to determine how the client feels means that the therapist has
already begun to intervene (Halter, 2017). The intervention helps the
healthcare provider look at the patient in the context of a combination of the
social environment and the psychological factors that influence the mental as
well as the physical wellbeing.
First Choice
Medication
The
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) forms the class of drugs
used as the first line medication for anxiety. This category of drugs
stabilizes transmitters affected by anxiety, thus enhancing the client’s mood
and lowering the feelings. Dulozetine is an example of drugs in this category.
These medications will work by balancing chemicals that are responsible for the
occurrence of anxiety.
Benzodiazepines
Side Effects
The
development of new drugs is based on the urgent need for products with a better
level of efficacy (Beyer & Stahl, 2010). Lorazepam belongs to the
benzodiazepine class of drugs. The major side effects include confusion,
drowsiness, impaired coordination, and vision problem. These adverse events
should be considered when offering treating in order to maximize the safety of
the patient.
Neurobiological
Action
Benzodiazepines
work by improving the impact of Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA).
The drug reduces excitability of different neurons, which produce a calming
effect on most of the functions that occur in the patient’s brain. This occurs
when it binds to GABA receptors that are found in the neurons. This results in
properties, such as hypnotic and sedative. It also leads to muscle relaxation.
Conclusion
Anxiety
is among the most common psychological disorders. It should be diagnosed
effectively to avoid treating the wrong illnesses. The SNRI class of drugs
should be used to treat Jim’s condition. Benzodiazepines drugs may also be used
to help the client since they are capable to enhancing the mood by binding to
the GABA receptors.
References
Beyer,
E. & Stahl, M. (2010). Next
generation antidepressants: moving beyond monoamines to discover novel
treatment strategies for mood disorders. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
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