WK 5 SOCW 6443 Assignment: Considering Alternative Treatment Options for Anxiety Disorders

Imagine that you have been seeing a client for 4 months. During treatment, you learn that he has been 5 years sober but lately has felt an intense sense of anxiety and has requested a referral to a psychiatrist. Upon returning to his counseling sessions, you learn that the psychiatrist has prescribed diazepam, a benzodiazepine. You are aware of the fact that the benzodiazepine functions similarly to alcohol in the body. You are concerned about a relapse because of this newly prescribed medication for the anxiety disorder.

Sometimes the medication a doctor chooses to treat a client’s symptoms is ineffective or inappropriate, or it may not create the desired effect without intolerable side effects. Under what circumstances does it become necessary for a mental health professional to advocate for an alternative treatment for a client? What ethical issues associated with client treatment would mental health professionals need to address? Why would a release of information be needed?

For this Assignment, view the media case study titled “Anxiety Disorder Case Study: Mary.”Assume the role of a mental health professional to respond to the client call. Review the medication that the psychiatrist prescribed and explain the expected effects and side effects of its use. Plan a treatment strategy.

In a 2- to 3-page, APA-formatted paper 7th addition, include the following: Questions in bold then answers I will take out later 

An explanation of any concerns, ethical or otherwise, you may have regarding the client’s generalized anxiety disorder treatment

An explanation of the factors you would take into consideration in developing a strategy to treat the client’s generalized anxiety disorder

An explanation of a treatment strategy for the client’s generalized anxiety disorder along with a justification for your strategy

An explanation of how you would advocate for your treatment strategy

Resources

Lichtblau, L. (2011). Psychopharmacology demystified. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, Cengage Learning.

Chapter 6, “Anxiolytic-Sedative-Hypnotic Drug Pharmacotherapy” (pp. 77–84)

Preston, J. D., O’Neal, J. H., & Talaga, M. C. (2017). Handbook of clinical psychopharmacology for therapists (8th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Chapter 9, “Anxiety Disorders” (pp. 107-122)

Chapter 12, “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” (pp. 137-144)

Chapter 18, “Antianxiety Medication” (pp. 217-226)

CASE STUDY

Anxiety Disorder Case Study: Mary

Program Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MARY: Hi, I’m Mary. I’m just nervous all the time. I worry about getting

homework in on time or forgetting an assignment completely. I stressed out

about what to make for dinner when my parents visited me in my apartment. I

feel that others scrutinize the way I talk and walk. I wonder if they are being as

critical as I am about myself.

I recently found out that my suspicions and fears about high blood pressure are

true. My doctor said that my blood pressure is borderline high. He said that diet

and exercise would do the trick to correct the problem. Then I was afraid that I

won’t exercise enough or eat right, which will cause me to have a heart attack. I

could literally feel my blood pressure rise as he described more things to add to

my list of worries.

I think that my level of constant anxiety has kept me from dating boys. I want to

try out for the women’s lacrosse team, but I worry that I wouldn’t be any good. I

wish I could function like a normal person and be happy instead of scared. I find

myself even worrying about worrying these days. It is a good thing I don’t drink,

because I’d probably drink all the time and worry about the effect it is having on

me.

Anxiety Disorder Case Study: Mary

Additional Content Attribution

Creative Support Services

Los Angeles, CA

Dimension Sound Effects Library

Newnan, GA

Narrator Tracks Music Library

Stevens Point, WI

Signature Music, Inc.

Chesterton, IN

Studio Cutz Music Library