Week 8: Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment
Cynthia Ogom
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Walden University
NURS 6630: Psychopharmalogical Approaches to Treat Psychopathology
Dr. Reome
July 25th, 2022
Short Answer Assessment
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 patients with MDD and a history of alcohol abuse, the use of antidepressant medication like nefazodone in conjunction with psychotherapeutic approaches has been proven to be effective (Thom et al., 2019). Nefazodone is a serotonin modulator that has demonstrated a desirable safety profile, high tolerance, and great effectiveness in managing depression among alcohol-dependent patients. While SSRIs can also be considered, monoamine oxidase inhibitors like bupropion are contraindicated for such patients as alcohol increases the risks of adverse events such as the spiking of the patient’s blood pressure. With the use of nefazodone and multiple psychosocial therapies, the patient is expected to completely manage the MDD symptoms within 6 to 8 weeks.
List 4 predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder.
Female gender (Park & Zarate, 2019).
Current phobia
History of MDD
Respiratory Disorder
List 4 potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression.
Hypersensitivity to stress (Thom et al., 2019).
Serotonin dysfunction
Vulnerability to developing MDD
Elevated dopamine levels
An episode of major depression is defined as a period lasting at least 2 weeks. List at least 5 symptoms required for the episode to occur. Be specific.
Reduced energy levels or fatigue (Mullen, 2018).
Depressed mood
Anhedonia
Sleep disturbances
Feeling of worthlessness
List 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia. Be specific.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)- Zoloft and Prozac (Mullen, 2018)
Psychostimulants and amphetamines- Adderall and Benzedrine
Dopamine agonists- ropinirole and lisuride
References
Mullen, S. (2018). Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents. Mental Health Clinician, 8(6), 275-283. https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275
Park, L. T., & Zarate Jr, C. A. (2019). Depression in the primary care setting. New England Journal of Medicine, 380(6), 559-568. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMcp1712493
Thom, R., Silbersweig, D. A., & Boland, R. J. (2019). Major depressive disorder in medical illness: a review of assessment, prevalence, and treatment options. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(3), 246-255. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000678
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