A Young Girl With Strange Behaviors Case 3 ✓ Solved

A Young Girl With Strange Behaviorscase 3 A Young Girl With

BACKGROUND Carrie is a 13-year-old Hispanic female who is brought to your office today by her mother and father. They report that they were referred to you by their primary care provider after seeking her advice because Carrie’s behavior has been difficult to manage and they don’t know what to do.

SUBJECTIVE Carrie’s parents report that they have concerns about her behavior, which they describe as sometimes “not normal for a 13-year-old.” They notice that she talks to people who aren’t real. Her behavior is calm and “passive.” Her parents noted that when she was younger, she was irritable at times, but have noticed that this has given way to passivity. Her parents state that they understand that it’s normal for younger children to have “imaginary friends,” but they feel that at Carrie’s age, she should have grown out of these behaviors. Carrie’s parents report that she has friends that are half-cat and half-human, and “spirits” who speak with her “in her head.” She also reports that the people on television know when she is home and that they have certain shows “just for her.” Carrie’s parents report that they have taken her to her pediatrician who has given her a “clean bill of health.” Carrie’s parents note that they had some early concerns as she was lagging in meeting developmental milestones. Initially, when she first started school, Carrie managed to keep up with her peers in terms of academic performance, but she was noticed by her teachers to be isolative. It was also noted by her teachers and guidance counselor that Carrie’s social skills do not seem to match what they see in other children her age. Initially the school counselor suspected that Carrie may have been suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (primarily inattentive type), but now is not certain and has recommended a psychiatric evaluation. Her grades were “ok” in school up until last year when she left junior high school and entered high school, where the academic demands began to increase. Carrie’s teachers had wanted to hold her back a grade, but her parents acknowledge that they were “insistent” that this did not happen. Now they are describing some regrets over this as Carrie seems “more lost than ever” in her schoolwork. Carrie’s mother produced a copy of a paper that Carrie had to submit as a homework assignment. You attempt to read the assignment, but there does not appear to be any clarity to the work, and it can best be described as a hodge-podge of thoughts and ideas. Carrie’s parents want you to know that although they are concerned about Carrie, they are opposed to giving her medications that would turn her “into a zombie.” Carrie’s mother also confides that her husband’s grandfather spent “a few years in the nut house.” When you probe further, she began crying and said, “He was schizophrenic … what if Carrie is schizophrenic?” During your interview with Carrie, she seems pleasant, but somewhat distant. When you ask her about her friends at school, she shrugs her shoulders and says, “I don’t really have any. I don’t like those people.” You inquire if she is sad or upset that she doesn’t like them, to which she states “no, why should I be? I guess they would be friends with me if I asked, but I’m not interested. I could make them be my friends if I wanted, but I don’t … but if I wanted them to, all that I have to do is make up my mind that they will be my friend and they would have to.” When you ask Carrie if she believes that she can control the thoughts of others with her mind, she puts her index finger up to her mouth and looks toward the door. “My mom gets upset when I talk about these things. I try not to think about them either because if she is close enough, she could read my thoughts and they upset her. She may think that I’m into witchcraft or something.” When you ask Carrie about the homework assignment that you read, she explains that her teacher “is just miserable. She doesn’t understand how I think—I think high, she just can’t get it.

OBJECTIVE The client is a 13-year-old Hispanic female client who appears appropriately developed for her age. She is dressed appropriately for the current weather, and ambulates with a steady upright gait. She does not appear to be demonstrating any noteworthy mannerisms, gestures, or tics. No psychomotor agitation/retardation apparent.

MENTAL STATUS EXAM Carries is alert and oriented—4 spheres. Her speech is clear, coherent, goal directed, and spontaneous. Carrie self-reports her mood as “good.” However, her affect does appear somewhat constricted. Her eye contact is minimal throughout the clinical interview and at times, Carrie seems preoccupied. Carrie is oriented to person, place, and time. She endorses hearing and seeing strange “things that I talk to. They don’t scare me; they come to see me from another world.” No overt paranoia is appreciated. She does report delusions of reference (she believes that the people on TV play programs “just for her” and at times, television commercials were designed to tell her what to do), as well as other delusional thoughts (as described above). Carrie denies any suicidal or homicidal ideation.

At this point, please discuss any additional diagnostic tests you would perform on Carrie. Decision Point One BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE SCENARIO ABOVE, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSES WOULD THE PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER (PMHNP) GIVE TO CARRIE? In your write-up of this case, be certain to link specific symptoms presented in the case to DSM–5 criteria to support your diagnosis. Early Onset Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder Schizotypal Personality Disorder.

Paper For Above Instructions

The case of Carrie, a 13-year-old Hispanic girl experiencing unusual behaviors and potentially severe mental health issues, illustrates the importance of thorough psychiatric evaluation, early diagnosis, and appropriate intervention. Carrie's parents brought her to seek professional help due to their concerns about her behaviors, which diverge significantly from typical adolescent experiences. The reports of Carrie talking to imaginary friends, her belief in half-cat half-human companions, and her conviction that the television communicates with her suggest a possible psychological disturbance. Understanding these symptoms in relation to DSM-5 criteria is crucial for accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

To provide a thorough assessment, it is essential to recognize how Carrie's symptoms fit within established psychiatric categories. The differential diagnosis includes Early Onset Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Each of these disorders has particular diagnostic criteria that can be used to investigate Carrie’s case systematically.

Early Onset Schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behavior that significantly affects functioning. Carrie experiences auditory and visual hallucinations, believing she is in contact with imaginary friends and spirits. She also displays delusions of reference, convinced that the television broadcasts programs “just for her.” These symptoms align with DSM-5 criteria for Schizophrenia, which requires symptoms to persist for at least six months with significant impairment in social or cognitive functioning.

In addition to hallucinations and delusions, Carrie's passive demeanor and reported social withdrawal suggest impairment in her social and academic life, likely exacerbated by her ongoing struggles in high school. The lack of peer relationships can further isolate her, potentially compounding her difficulties. It is critical to differentiate whether these behaviors stem from a primary psychotic disorder such as Schizophrenia or if they are secondary to mood disturbances as seen in Schizoaffective Disorder.

Schizoaffective Disorder incorporates elements of both schizophrenia and mood disorders, which could explain fluctuations in Carrie's mental state if her mood episodes are pronounced. However, the case presentation leans more towards a primary psychotic disorder given the described hallucinations and lack of mood components. Her report of a “good” mood emphasizes that pervasive depression or hypomania does not appear predominant in her case at this time.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder could be another consideration. Individuals with this disorder often exhibit odd beliefs, behaviors, and social deficits but do not meet the full criteria for schizophrenia. While Carrie does display peculiar beliefs and some social estrangement, her level of impairment and the delusions of reference point towards a more severe condition than what is typically encountered in personality disorders.

To form a clearer understanding of Carrie's condition, additional diagnostic tests are necessary. These could include a structured clinical interview, psychological testing to evaluate cognitive function, and assessments for any depressive or anxiety symptoms. Neuroimaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, may be indicated to rule out any neurological causes of her symptoms, although these are often not definitive in diagnosing psychiatric conditions. Blood tests to check for substance use or underlying medical conditions could also provide valuable information.

In conclusion, after careful consideration of Carrie's symptoms and behaviors in relation to the DSM-5 criteria, the most fitting diagnosis could likely be Early Onset Schizophrenia, given the strong presentation of psychotic features. It is vital for the psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) to facilitate a comprehensive treatment plan that could involve individual psychotherapy, family therapy, and careful consideration of medication options, in light of the parents' concerns about pharmacological treatment. Early intervention on these fronts may ultimately provide Carrie the support she needs to navigate her adolescent years and work toward improved mental health outcomes.

References

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