(Solved) NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment: Short Answer Assessment

(Solved) NURS 6630 Week 1 Assignment: Short Answer Assessment Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment Linus Osuji Walden University NURS 6630: Psychopharmalogical Approaches to Treat Psychopathology This study source was downloaded by from CourseH on :42:54 GMT -06:00 Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment 1. 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 resolution of symptoms? • For a patient with MDD and alcohol abuse, an appropriate drug therapy would include a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor such as fluoxetine, sertraline and desipramine. Combination of SSRIs and opiate antagonists (e.g., sertraline and naltrexone can help improve mood as well as reduce alcohol use (McHugh & Weiss, 2019). • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as Venlafaxine and Duloxetine are contraindicated in the patients with MDD and a history of alcohol dependency as they increase the risk of liver toxicity (McHugh & Weiss, 2019). • The patient should experience a change in symptoms within a period of two weeks but to notice the full impact of the drugs, it can take up to eight weeks 2. List 4 predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder. • Having chronic physical health disorders including respiratory disorders, heart failure, dyslipidemia and arrhythmia • Having a severe mental health disorder such as depression and phobia • Having cognitive impairment • A history of generalized anxiety disorder (Rhebergen et al., 2018). 3. List 4 potential neurobiology causes of psychotic major depression. • Stressful conditions in the past such as childhood abuse/maltreatment • Lack of hyperconnectivity in the default mode network (DMN) and other brain regions can cause psychotic depression This study source was downloaded by from CourseH on :42:54 GMT -06:00 • Abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) • Functional and structural abnormalities of the prefrontal structures and the interconnected circuits (Croarkin, 2018). 4. An episode of major depression is defined as a period of time lasting at least 2 weeks. List at least 5 symptoms required for the episode to occur. Be specific. • Depressed mood for most of the day as indicated by feeling sad, hopeless or empty • Reduced interest in participation in activities that were previously pleasurable • Insomnia or hypersomnia almost everyday • Feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt almost every day • Recurrent suicidal ideation, suicide attempt or thoughts of death (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). 5. List 3 classes of drugs, with a corresponding example for each class, that precipitate insomnia. Be specific. • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: SSRIs such as sertraline, fluoxetine, and paroxetine are known to cause insomnia (Levenson et al., 2015) • Stimulants: drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) precipitate insomnia • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): selegiline and phenelzine precipitate insomnia (Levenson et al., 2015).