Clinical Case Study: CBT For Depression In A Puerto Rican Ad

Clinical Case Study: CBT for Depression in A Puerto Rican Adolescent. Challenges and Variability in Treatment Response

The patient is a 15-year-old Puerto Rican adolescent female living with both her parents and a younger sibling. Her parents have experienced significant marital problems, including repeated separations and ongoing discussions of divorce. Her mother reports a history of depression and anxiety, and her father has a documented history of bipolar disorder with multiple psychiatric hospitalizations. The patient herself has a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosed three years prior, treated intermittently with supportive psychotherapy and antidepressants (fluoxetine and sertraline). Presently, she exhibits symptoms including persistent sadness, crying, increased appetite, guilt, low self-esteem, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating. She reports negative thoughts about her appearance and academic abilities, as well as guilt related to her parents' marital issues. She sometimes feels the world would be better off without her. Her academic performance has declined, leading her family to seek a new school environment. Medical history notes asthma and overweight status; she uses glasses. Her recent depressive episodes were triggered by romantic rejection and exacerbated by familial and social stressors.

The current clinical picture indicates a recurrent episode of moderate depression, compounded by familial stressors and social difficulties. Her symptomatology aligns with diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, considering her history, symptom duration, and functional impairment. The multifactorial influences, including familial psychiatric history and recent social stressors, suggest a complex case requiring a combined therapeutic approach.

Paper For Above instruction

Subjective Data: The patient reports feelings of deep sadness, frequent crying episodes, irritability, and feelings of hopelessness. She admits to overeating and experiencing guilt, especially regarding her academic performance and her parents’ marital issues. She describes persistent negative thoughts about her appearance and abilities, which have led to social withdrawal. She also reports difficulty sleeping and concentrating, culminating in poor academic performance and strained peer relationships. These symptoms have been ongoing for several weeks to months, with recent intensification following social rejection and ongoing familial conflicts.

Objective Data: Observation reveals a girl appearing her age but with noticeable signs of distress, including tearfulness and sluggishness. She reports using glasses for vision correction and has a BMI categorizing her as overweight. Mental status examination indicates a sad mood, constricted affect, and kinesis consistent with depression. No evidence of psychosis or immediate suicidal or homicidal ideation was noted during clinical contact; however, her report of feelings of worthlessness and despair warrants careful monitoring.

Assessment: The clinical presentation suggests a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), recurrent episode, moderate severity, with significant psychosocial stressors. Her history of previous depression, family psychiatric illnesses, and current symptomatology reinforce this diagnosis. The familial environment characterized by marital instability and parental psychiatric conditions may contribute to her vulnerability, necessitating an integrative treatment plan addressing both individual and environmental factors.

Plan:

Pharmacological Treatment: Initiate fluoxetine at 10 mg daily, with plans to titrate to 20 mg daily after two weeks based on therapeutic response and tolerability. Fluoxetine is chosen due to its favorable side effect profile and safety in adolescents, supported by evidence favoring SSRIs in adolescent depression (Brent et al., 2008). Regular monitoring for side effects, including sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal symptoms, will be essential.

Non-Pharmacological Treatment: Implement cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically tailored for adolescent depression, focusing on cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and social skills training. The goal is to improve mood, enhance coping strategies, and address negative thought patterns. This evidence-based psychotherapy has demonstrated efficacy in adolescent populations (Weersing et al., 2017).

Patient Education and Family Support: Conduct psychoeducation sessions with the patient and her family to enhance understanding of depression, reduce stigma, and promote supportive interactions. Addressing familial stressors, including communication strategies and conflict resolution, will be supportive adjuncts.

Referral to Other Providers: Refer the patient to a school counselor and a family therapist to address academic difficulties and family dynamics. Additionally, consultation with a pediatric psychiatrist for medication management and ongoing psychiatric support is recommended.

Follow-up: Schedule follow-up appointments every two weeks initially to monitor medication efficacy, side effects, and symptom progression. Adjust the treatment plan as needed based on clinical response. Once stabilized, extend follow-up intervals to monthly visits, with ongoing assessment of depressive symptoms and functional improvements.

This comprehensive approach, combining pharmacotherapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy and family support, aims to reduce depressive symptoms, improve social and academic functioning, and address psychosocial factors contributing to her mental health challenges. Monitoring carefully for adverse effects and treatment response will be critical in achieving optimal outcomes.

References

• Brent, D. A., Emslie, G., Clarke, G., et al. (2008). The treatment of adolescent depression study (TADS): Safety results. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(11), 1326-1335.
• Chafey, M. I. J., Bernal, G., & Rossello, J. (2009). Clinical Case Study: CBT for Depression in A Puerto Rican Adolescent. Challenges and Variability in Treatment Response. Depression and Anxiety, 26, 98-103.
• Weersing, V. R., Jeffreys, M., Do, M. T., et al. (2017). Evidence base update of psychosocial treatments for adolescent depression. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46(2), 237-259.
• Reynolds, C. A. (2014). The epidemiology of depression in adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(4), 392–415.
• Hetrick, S. E., McKenzie, J. E., Bailey, A., et al. (2016). Newer generation antidepressants for depression in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (8), CD012947.
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• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2019). Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 58(3), 251-273.
• Kirsch, I., Deacon, B. J., Huedo-Medina, T. B., et al. (2018). Initial severity and antidepressant benefits: A meta-analysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLOS Medicine, 15(2), e1002519.
• Davidson, K. M., & Moller, A. (2014). Family-based therapies for adolescent depression. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 25(3), 171-187.
• Ginsburg, G. S., & Drake, A. N. (2013). Evidence-based treatments for adolescent depression. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 22(3), 713-728.