Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety
Six-year-old Katy has a wide range of symptoms that need to be carefully considered and evaluated. A provisional diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with characteristics of particular phobia and separation anxiety disorder (SAD) may be made based on the facts given. It may also be associated with adjustment disorder and anxiety. These results are based on her ongoing concerns about going to school, her fear of dogs, and her mother’s health, all of which fit the DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. Her avoidance behavior, physical symptoms including headaches and stomachaches, and refusal to go to school all point to the possibility of SAD, especially in light of her emotional outburst upon her parents’ separation. Additionally, her mother’s illness and the stress of moving to a new school recently may be contributing factors to her adjustment disorder with anxiety. Nonetheless, it is crucial to take Katy’s young age into account when determining if the diagnostic and intervention techniques are developmentally appropriate. Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety
To avoid long-term effects, it is imperative that Katy’s symptoms be identified early and treated. Although some could contend that Katy is too young to receive a mental health diagnosis, her symptoms are serious and have a big influence on her day-to-day activities. The idea that kids as young as Katy can have mental health problems and benefit from specialized interventions is supported by research. As such, it is critical to start the proper evaluation and therapy as soon as possible.
A variety of psychiatric measures and evaluation instruments can be used to evaluate Katy’s state. Her symptoms can be assessed using the CBCL or the SDQ, and the intensity of her anxiety can be measured using the PARS. The parents might gain important insights into the family dynamics that might affect Katy’s condition by using tools like the PSI or the FAD to measure stress levels and family functioning.
Anxiety disorder symptoms can seem differently in children than in teenagers (Cobham et al., 2020)Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety. While physical complaints, clinginess, and school refusal are common symptoms in younger children like Katy, internalized symptoms like excessive concern, anger, and avoidance behaviors are more common in teens. Comprehending these distinctions is essential for customizing interventions to match the child’s developmental requirements.
Katy needs a thorough treatment plan that incorporates a multidisciplinary approach and cooperation with school staff. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation methods, and the implementation of a progressive exposure plan to school are examples of school-based therapies. In addition, modifications like a buddy system and a special area at school can help Katy integrate and settle more easily into the school setting.
The effects on Katy’s family could be severe because of her symptoms, which could lead to more stress, disturbed routines, and financial hardship. Family therapy that focuses on communication, coping mechanisms, and addressing concerns about her mother’s health may be helpful (Falloon et al., 2023). Additionally, the family may benefit from additional support and direction by using community resources including nearby NAMI chapters, online support groups, and informative websites like the Child Mind Institute.
Given how Katy’s anxiety is impacted by her mother’s health, both individual and family-focused therapy should be recommended. Katy can get help with her anxiety and phobias through individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and family therapy can help her communicate openly and give her coping mechanisms for when her mother gets sick.
In summary, Katy’s story emphasizes the value of early detection and treatment when it comes to children’s mental health concerns. With the use of evidence-based evaluation instruments and a comprehensive approach to treatment, we can help Katy and her family manage her symptoms and advance her general health in a productive and efficient manner. Nonetheless, questions about her safety, adherence to her therapy, and the long-term effects of her illnesses still need to be answered, which emphasizes the necessity of continuous observation and coordination amongst medical specialists (Damarell et al., 2020)Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety.
CASE STUDY
Family mental health history
Mother has a history of panic disorder
Father has a history of treatment with medications for ADHD as a child
Cousin diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome
Katy is a six-year-old girl, the second of two children of a middle-class family living in a suburban area of a northwest city. Katy has one sister that is two years older than her. Her mother’s pregnancy was normal and Katy’s birth was normal. Katy had colic the first three months, cried extensively and was difficult to comfort. After three months she became passive and cried very little with comfort from her mother. Her growth and development appeared to be normal. She met all the developmental milestones her first three years. She interacted normally with her sister and parents, except that she would become tearful and anxious when her parents would get a babysitter.
At age four, she was in nursery school and appeared to function normally except during the first month when Katy had difficulty when her father would drop her off at school. The nursery school was a small private school with a lot of personal attention given to each child. Although shy, she made friends and liked going to nursery school after she became adjusted to the new setting. Her parents liked the school so much that they decided to keep Katy in kindergarten at this school with her same teachers and friends. However, tuition at the school became a problem after Katy’s mother became sick with lupus and was unable to work. Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety
At age six, Katy’s parents enrolled her in first grade at the public elementary school in their neighborhood. For the last two weeks, she has refused to go to school and has missed six school days. She is awake almost all night worrying about going to school. As the start of the school day approaches, she cries and screams that she cannot go, chews holes in her shirt, pulls her hair, digs at her face, punches the wall, throws herself on the floor, as well as experiences headaches, stomachaches, and vomiting. Over the past two weeks, she has become gloomy, has stopped reading for fun, and frequently worries about her mother’s Lupus and that she may die. In addition, Katy is phobic of dogs, avoids speaking and writing in public, and wets the bed every night.
Her parents immediately made an appointment to see her PCP. Her doctor conducted a thorough physical exam, found no physical abnormalities and then referred her to you, a Family PMHNP.
Family history of mental health includes the following: mother has a history of panic disorder; her father has a history of treatment with medications for ADHD as a child; and she has a cousin diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.
For your assignment, address the following prompts using evidence-based references to support your answers: Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety
What is your provisional diagnosis, as well as the possible differentials?
Justify your answer with DSM-5 criteria (be short, brief and to the point).
Is Katy too young to diagnose, or is there a basis for early identification and intervention?
What psychiatric scales or assessment tools might you use with this patient? With the parents? List and describe briefly.
How would the typical symptom patterns and phases be manifested in children this age? In adolescents?
What would be your school-based treatment plan, if any?
What would be the implications for the families of children and adolescents with these diagnostic pictures?
How does the mother’s health play into the picture of Katy’s diagnosis? What type of therapy would you recommend for Katy (and her family) to work through her issues?
Identify resources for patients/families with this diagnosis in the form of community groups, websites, advocacy, as well as treatment resources available in your service area.
What are you worried about (if anything)? Consider this question in terms of treatment, assessment, alliance, compliance, effectiveness, safety, and other factors.
Review the case study and analyze the data to determine the health status of the patient.
Answer the questions
Apply APA 7th edition standards.
Your assignment submission should be at least 500 words in length. It should contain proper grammar, be free of spelling errors, and reflect critical thinking. Use current literature to Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety
References
Cobham, V. E., Hickling, A., Kimball, H., Thomas, H. J., Scott, J. G., & Middeldorp, C. M. (2020). Systematic review: anxiety in children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(5), 595-618. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856719321100
Damarell, R. A., Morgan, D. D., & Tieman, J. J. (2020). General practitioner strategies for managing patients with multimorbidity: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative research. BMC Family Practice, 21(1), 1-23. https://bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-020-01197-8
Falloon, I. R., Laporta, M., Fadden, G., & Graham-Hole, V. (2023). Managing stress in families: Cognitive and behavioural strategies for enhancing coping skills. Taylor & Francis. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Uh3EEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=Family+therapy+that+focuses+on+communication,+coping+mechanisms,+and+addressing+concerns+about+her+mother%27s+health+may+be+helpful.+&ots=28NHOVIXb1&sig=XLGnE8eqo7Mue1ASSJ5rvlx18aI Case Study Analysis And Treatment Addressing Childhood Anxiety