Question Assignment: You Develop Diagnoses For Clinic ✓ Solved
Question Assignment. This week, you develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients.
This week, you develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider the legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients. Select a child or adolescent client whom you observed or counseled during the week. In your Practicum Journal, provide a description of the client, ensuring that no HIPAA violations occur. Include relevant history, medical information, and any prescribed medications. Using the DSM-5, explain and justify your diagnosis for this client. Additionally, discuss any legal or ethical considerations related to counseling this client and support your analysis with evidence-based literature.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
Psychotherapy for children and adolescents is a critical component of mental health care, necessitating accurate diagnosis, ethical clinical practices, and awareness of legal considerations. This paper focuses on developing a diagnosis for a selected young client, considering the complex interplay of clinical symptoms, legal statutes, and ethical standards to ensure effective and compliant mental health treatment.
Client Description
The client is an 11-year-old male referred by his school counselor due to ongoing behavioral and emotional concerns. The child resides with his biological parents in an urban setting. He has demonstrated increased irritability, social withdrawal, and difficulty concentrating over the past three months. The child's developmental history is unremarkable, with appropriate milestones achieved. Medical history indicates no chronic illnesses, but he is prescribed fluoxetine 10 mg daily for diagnosed depression. No known allergies are reported.
History and Medical Information
The child's academic records reveal declining grades and frequent absences. Teachers report that he often appears withdrawn, avoids peer interactions, and has difficulty completing assignments. The parent reports that the child has experienced recent stress related to parental separation six months prior. He has a history of mild separation anxiety during early childhood but no prior psychiatric hospitalizations. The current medications include fluoxetine, with no reported adverse effects.
DSM-5 Diagnosis and Justification
Based on the clinical presentation, the diagnosis aligned with DSM-5 criteria is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), moderate severity, with anxious features (F33.1). The child's symptoms include persistent depressed mood, loss of interest, social withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, and irritability, with symptoms lasting more than two weeks. The presence of anxiety features, such as worry and separation anxiety, supports the diagnosis of comorbid anxiety symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The diagnosis is justified by clinical interviews, symptom duration, and the impact on functioning.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Clinicians must navigate several legal and ethical issues when treating minors. Informed consent is obtained from the parent or guardian, while assent is sought from the child, respecting developmental capacity. Confidentiality is essential but must be balanced with the child's safety, especially if risk of self-harm or harm to others arises (American Nurses Association, 2014). The clinician must be aware of mandated reporting laws related to abuse disclosures. Ethical practice includes establishing a therapeutic alliance, ensuring informed consent, and maintaining confidentiality while adhering to legal reporting obligations (Corey, 2017).
Additionally, the prescribing of medications like fluoxetine involves monitoring for adverse effects and ensuring the treatment aligns with evidence-based guidelines (Wheeler, 2014). Ethical considerations also encompass cultural competence, respecting family dynamics, and engaging parents while prioritizing the child's best interests.
Supporting Literature
Research emphasizes the importance of comprehensive assessment and diagnosis in pediatric mental health. The DSM-5 provides standardized criteria ensuring diagnostic accuracy (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Ethical practice standards highlight the importance of confidentiality, informed consent, and cultural sensitivity (American Nurses Association, 2014; Corey, 2017). Legal frameworks, such as mandated reporting laws, safeguard against abuse and ensure safety (American Nurses Association, 2014). Evidence-based pharmacotherapy guidelines recommend careful monitoring of medications like fluoxetine in children and adolescents (Wheeler, 2014).
Conclusion
Developing accurate diagnoses for child and adolescent clients receiving psychotherapy requires integrating clinical evidence with ethical and legal considerations. Careful assessment, adherence to professional standards, and ongoing monitoring foster ethical and effective mental health care for young clients.
References
- American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
- Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Cengage Learning.
- Wheeler, K. (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
- Additional scholarly articles supporting assessment and ethical standards
Through careful diagnosis, ethical awareness, and legal compliance, mental health professionals can optimize treatment outcomes for pediatric clients, ensuring safety, respect, and therapeutic efficacy.