NURS 6630 Week 9 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Neurodevelopmental disorders have undertaken several diagnostic evolutions in several past years.  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is one of the standard diagnostics tools used. A popular belief is that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is prevalent among children. It is stereotyped that it only affects the attention of children.

A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

New information has however shown that ADHD not only affect attention in children, but also involves hyperactivity and impulsivity. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) (2019 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper), it is possible that this disorder can be present in adults contrary to common beliefs.

ADHD is usually recognized in early childhood, especially during the preschool years and early school years and can continue into adulthood. It can cause issues such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity and patients usually present with these as the core symptoms. Some ADHD patients only present with one of the behaviors while other present with a combination. Specific issues seen with ADHD include poor performance in school, inability to think properly and behavioral problems. According to Krull (2019 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper), patients can also have a difficulty in expressing their feelings and building relationships.

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Using the DSM-5 criteria, ADHD symptoms must be present before the age of 12 years and also in more than one setting (APA, 2013). To diagnose ADHD, an authorized medical practitioner such as a psychiatrist or a pediatrician should be present. An expert in ADHD who is licensed to determine the presence of this disorder can also make the diagnosis. The signs to look out for in order to make a diagnosis are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that has been present over a long period. ADHD management and treatment consists of counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of these options.

The goal in managing and treating ADHD is to ensure the patient regains full function and can perform better in school, or work and have better relationships. Another goal is to ensure the patient can function in a society by being able to follow the rules. Successful treatment will increase the patient’s attention span, regulate their level of activity to normal and decrease their impulsiveness.

In this paper, the focus will be on an 8-year-old Caucasian female presenting to the clinic with symptoms that indicate ADHD. The best treatment option for this patient will rely on three decisions informed by ethical and treatment guidelines for the disorder. The overall pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics for the drugs will be discussed.

Decision 1 for A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

After reviewing the patient, a diagnosis of ADHD is made. Decisions have to be made in order to properly manage and treat this patient. My first treatment decision for this 8-year-old school-going female is to start her on Ritalin chewable tablet 10 mg orally in the morning. This choice is mainly influenced by the patient’s clinical manifestations, and the benefit-risk assessment of the available options. The objective of treatment is to improve the patient’s symptoms.

According to Verbeeck et al. (2017), most pharmacological treatments for ADHD facilitate the transmission of catecholamines. ADHD patients are usually treated with stimulant drugs. Ritalin is a stimulant agent which is FDA approved for use as the first-line treatment for ADHD. Approximately 90% of patients on Ritalin show improvement of symptoms (Verbeevk et al., 2017 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper).

Ritalin achieves this by increasing the action dopamine and noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex thus stimulating the CNS. CNS stimulation helps foster cognition and attention and restores the patient’s ability to focus. The reason for prescribing the drug in the morning is because of the need to achieve concentration during the day. The drug also has a potential of causing insomnia.

The use of Bupropion is not selected because it is an antidepressant which is only used as an alternative when the patients cannot tolerate stimulants because of the side effects or if patients do not respond well to stimulants (Ng, 2017). Bupropion is registered as an antidepressant and is used off-label to treat ADHD. Despite its extensive use, it is not FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD in children. It is also associated with suicidal ideations as a side effect and evidence has shown that it is only effective in the treatment of ADHD that is comorbid with depression.

Intuniv is also not selected as it is a non-stimulant that is not recommended as the first-line treatment of ADHD. It usually takes long to start producing effects as opposed to Ritalin that takes a few minutes to start exhibiting its effects. Intuniv is however suggested as an augmenting agent if stimulants do not offer adequate improvement in symptoms (Stahl, 2017 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper).

With the treatment option selected, I hope to see an improvement in the symptoms as soon as possible, with the patient reporting an improvement in school performance when she returns for a follow-up after 4 weeks. The patient returns four weeks later with improved symptoms but complains of some adverse effects including daydreaming and cardiac symptoms such as tachycardia. With this new information, a re-evaluation is necessary and another decision needs to made to manage this patient.

A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper Decision 2

With new findings in the patient, my decision is to change to Ritalin LA 20 mg orally in the morning. The reason for this is that the symptoms shown could be as a result of Ritalin 10 mg chewable tablets being a short acting agent. The symptoms could also be prevented by reducing the dose to 5 mg. This would reduce the potential side effects but also the efficacy. A longer acting agent is therefore the best option to use on this patient. This way she gets a pulse dose in the morning and another dose four hours later.

I would not want to switch to another drug option because Ritalin seems to be effective in improving the symptoms. Keeping her on the same dose would not change anything in terms of relieving or minimizing the side effects. She would still have symptoms of tachycardia on the same dose. Changing her medication to Adderall is not an option I would consider because she seems to be responding well to Ritalin, an aspect Cortese et al. (2018) identify as a basis for sticking to the current treatment medication.

It is recommended that when patients experience side effects, waiting and making adjustments on the current medications are made before switching to a different drug. If the patient does not show any improvement, then a change in medication can be made (Stahl, 2017 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper).

The goals of treatment remain the same as before but with a new target of reducing the patients heart rate without affecting her concentration throughout the day. The patient returns to the clinic after four weeks and reports a relief of the side effects. Her heart rate is at 92 beats a minute. This shows that the new treatment with Ritalin LA 20 mg is working with significant improvement recorded over the past four weeks.

A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper Decision 3

Because the patient seems to be doing well on the current treatment regimen, my plan would be to maintain her on the current dose of Ritalin LA and do a re-evaluation after four weeks. Ritalin seems to be working as Katie’s heart rate is back to normal and her attention is sustained throughout the day. She also reports no additional side effects. It is recommended that the lowest dose of a stimulant needed should be used to correct a disorder and for this reason, I would not increase the dose to 30 mg. Her heart rate of 92 is within the normal range for her age and an EKG is unnecessary at this point. A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Ethical Considerations in A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

When treating patients with ADHD, many ethical considerations have to be taken into account. These include choosing the right medication for the treatment of the condition. This is important as some drug classes such as nonstimulants have harmful side effect which the patient may not be able to tolerate. This is also important because the patients are still developing and some of these drugs may impede their development.

Another consideration is the patient autonomy. Because the patient is a minor, she is not able to make any decisions as regards their health and treatment. Parents therefore have to be incorporated in making decisions that pertain to the treatment of this patient and they have a right to agree to or deny treatment they don’t agree with. It is also important to try and involve the child in the treatment and breakdown everything to a language they can understand (NIH, 2019 A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper).

Another ethical consideration is the cardiac effects that are associated with psychostimulants. A family history of cardiac disease should be taken into account before commencing treatment with stimulants. The last consideration is the side effects and the lowest effective dose should be prescribed and the patients monitored regularly for side effects (NIH, 2019). The patient should also be educated on these side effects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ADHD is a disorder that starts in early childhood and can progress into adulthood if not managed well with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. ADHD usually present with three core symptoms i.e., inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness but not all patients present with all the symptoms at once. The NP has the ethical obligation to treat ADHD with the most effective options available. The first-line treatment for ADHD are stimulants such as Ritalin.

Other options of treatment include non-stimulants amphetamines and antidepressants such as bupropion. When treating patients with stimulants it is important to consider the potential side effects such as cardiac effects such as tachycardia as seen in the patient. It is also important to use the lowest effective dose to treat the patients. The patient should also be involved in their treatment and patient preference is key to ensure compliance to medication. A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

References for A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).

Cortese, S., Adamo, N., Del Giovane, C., Mohr-Jensen, C., Hayes, A. J., & Carucci, S. (2018). Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: A systematic review and network metanalysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 727-738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S22150366(18)30269-4

Krull, K. (2019). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: Clinical features and diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/attentiondeficit-hyperactivity-disorder-in-children-and-adolescents-clinical-features-and-diagnosis

National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorderadhd/index.shtml

Ng, X. Q. (2017). A systematic review of the use of bupropion for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 27(2), 112-116. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2016.0124

Stahl, S. M. (2017). Prescriber’s guide (6th ed.). New Delhi, India: Cambridge University Press. A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Verbeeck, W., Bekkering, G. E., Van den Noortgate, W., & Kramers, C. (2017). Bupropion for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. The Cochrane Database Of Systematic Reviews, 10(10), CD009504. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009504.pub2

A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Case Study: A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD

BACKGROUND

Katie is an 8 year old Caucasian female who is brought to your office today by her mother & father. They report that they were referred to you by their primary care provider after seeking her advice because Katie’s teacher suggested that she may have ADHD. Katie’s parents reported that their PCP felt that she should be evaluated by psychiatry to determine whether or not she has this condition.

A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

The parents give the PMHNP a copy of a form titled “Conner’s Teacher Rating Scale-Revised”. This scale was filled out by Katie’s teacher and sent home to the parents so that they could share it with their family primary care provider. According to the scoring provided by her teacher, Katie is inattentive, easily distracted, forgets things she already learned, is poor in spelling, reading, and arithmetic. Her attention span is short, and she is noted to only pay attention to things she is interested in. The teacher opined that she lacks interest in school work and is easily distracted. Katie is also noted to start things but never finish them, and seldom follows through on instructions and fails to finish her school work.

Katie’s parents actively deny that Katie has ADHD. “She would be running around like a wild person if she had ADHD” reports her mother. “She is never defiant or has temper outburst” adds her father.

SUBJECTIVE

Katie reports that she doesn’t know what the “big deal” is. She states that school is “OK”- her favorite subjects are “art” and “recess.” She states that she finds her other subjects boring, and sometimes hard because she feels “lost”. She admits that her mind does wander during class to things that she thinks of as more fun. “Sometimes” Katie reports “I will just be thinking about nothing and the teacher will call my name and I don’t know what they were talking about.”

Katie reports that her home life is just fine. She reports that she loves her parents and that they are very good and kind to her. Denies any abuse, denies bullying at school. Offers no other concerns at this time.

MENTAL STATUS EXAM

The client is an 8 year old Caucasian female who appears appropriately developed for her age. Her speech is clear, coherent, and logical. She is appropriately oriented to person, place, time, and event. She is dressed appropriately for the weather and time of year. She demonstrates no noteworthy mannerisms, gestures, or tics. Self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect is bright. Katie denies visual or auditory hallucinations, no delusional or paranoid thought processes readily appreciated. Attention and concentration are grossly intact based on Katie’s attending to the clinical interview and her ability to count backwards from 100 by serial 2’s and 5’s. Insight and judgment appear age appropriate. Katie denies any suicidal or homicidal ideation.

Diagnosis: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive presentation

RESOURCES

  • Conners, C. K., Sitarenios, G., Parker, J. D. A., & Epstein, J. N. (1998). Revision and restandardization of the Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-R): Factors, structure, reliability, and criterion validity. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 279-291.

Decision Point One

Select what the PMHNP should do:

Begin Wellbutrin (bupropion) XL 150 mg orally daily

Begin Intuniv extended release 1 mg orally at BEDTIME

Begin Ritalin (methylphenidate) chewable tablets 10 mg orally in the MORNING

Decision Point One – Begin Ritalin (methylphenidate) chewable tablets 10 mg orally in the MORNING

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE

Client returns to clinic in four weeks

Katie’s parents report that they spoke with Katie’s teacher who notices that her symptoms are much better in the morning, which has resulted in improvement in her overall academic performance. However, by the afternoon, Katie is “staring off into space” and “daydreaming” again

Katie’s parents are very concerned, however, because Katie reported that her “heart felt funny.” You obtain a pulse rate and find that Katie’s heart is beating about 130 beats per minute. A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Decision Point Two

Select what the PMHNP should do next:

Continue same dose of Ritalin and re-evaluate in 4 weeks

Change to Ritalin LA 20 mg orally daily in the MORNING

Discontinue Ritalin and begin Adderall XR 15 mg orally daily

Decision Point Two – Change to Ritalin LA 20 mg orally daily in the MORNING

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO

Client returns to clinic in four weeks

Katie’s academic performance is still improved, and the switch to the LA preparation is lasting Katie throughout the school day

Katie’s reports of her heart feeling “funny” have gone away. Pulse was 92 during today’s office visit

Decision Point Three

Select what the PMHNP should do next:

Maintain current dose of Ritalin LA and reevaluate in 4 weeks

Increase Ritalin LA to 30 mg orally daily

Obtain EKG based on current heart rate

Decision Point Three – Maintain current dose of Ritalin LA and reevaluate in 4 weeks

Guidance to Student

At this point, Katie’s symptoms are well controlled (her attention is sustained throughout the school day) and her side effects have gone away following change to a long-acting preparation. There is no indication at this point that the dose should be increased as it is always advisable to use the lowest effective dose of stimulant medication. Katie’s heart rate is appropriate for an 8 year old girl and an EKG would not be indicated based on her heart rate. A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

LEARNING RESOURCES – A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Required Readings

Medication Resources

Note: To access the following medications, use the Drugs@FDA resource. Type the name of each medication in the keyword search bar. Select the hyperlink related to the medication name you searched. Review the supplements provided and select the package label resource file associated with the medication you searched. If a label is not available, you may need to conduct a general search outside of this resource provided. Be sure to review the label information for each medication as this information will be helpful for your review in preparation for your Assignments. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

·       armodafinil·       amphetamine (d)·       amphetamine (d,l)·       atomoxetine

·       bupropion

·       chlorpromazine

·       clonidine

 ·       guanfacine·       haloperidol·       lisdexamfetamine·       methylphenidate (d)

·       methylphenidate (d,l)

·       modafinil

·       reboxetine

Required Media

Note: This case study will serve as the foundation for this week’s Assignment.

NURS 6630 Week 9: Therapy for Patients With ADHD/ODD Instructions

WEEK 9: AT A GLANCE

THERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH ADHD/ODD

INTRODUCTION

Diego, a 9-year-old third grader, had always been an energetic child with a short attention span. For years, his mother attributed his behaviors to him being “all boy” and assumed it would improve as he grew older. Instead, daily tasks like chores and homework became increasingly overwhelming for Diego, resulting in disruptive behaviors at home and school. After being evaluated by his healthcare provider, Diego was diagnosed with and treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD is a prevalent disorder for patients across the lifespan, as more than 6 million children (CDC, n.d.) have been diagnosed with the disorder. Further, consider that about 60% of children with ADHD in the United States become adults with ADHD (ADAA, n.d.). Like Diego, individuals of all ages find that symptoms of ADHD can make life challenging. However, when properly diagnosed and treated, patients often respond well to therapies and have positive health outcomes. A Young Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

This week, as you study ADHD therapies, you examine the assessment and treatment of patients with ADHD. You also explore ethical and legal implications of these therapies. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Data and statistics about ADHD. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/adult-adhd

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will:

  • Assess patient factors and history to develop personalized therapy plans for patients with ADHD
  • Analyze factors that influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in patients requiring therapy for ADHD
  • Synthesize knowledge of providing care to patients presenting for ADHD
  • Analyze ethical and legal implications related to prescribing therapy for patients with ADHD
  • Identify concepts related to psychopharmacologic treatments and therapy for patients across the lifespan. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper Week 9: Assignment

ASSESSING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH ADHD

Not only do children and adults have different presentations for ADHD, but males and females may also have vastly different clinical presentations. Different people may also respond to medication therapies differently. For example, some ADHD medications may cause children to experience stomach pain, while others can be highly addictive for adults. In your role, as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you must perform careful assessments and weigh the risks and benefits of medication therapies for patients across the life span. For this Assignment, you consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with ADHD. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

TO PREPARE FOR THIS A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD ASSIGNMENT:

  • Review this week’s Learning Resources, including the Medication Resources indicated for this week.
  • Reflect on the psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for the assessment and treatment of patients with ADHD. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

THE ASSIGNMENT: 5 PAGES

Examine Case Study: A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this patient. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

At each decision point, you should evaluate all options before selecting your decision and moving throughout the exercise. Before you make your decision, make sure that you have researched each option and that you evaluate the decision that you will select. Be sure to research each option using the primary literature.

Introduction to the case – A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper (1 page)

  • Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.

A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper Decision #1 (1 page)

  • Which decision did you select?
  • Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
  • Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
  • What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature). A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD
  • Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.

A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper Decision #2 (1 page)

  • Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
  • Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
  • What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
  • Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD

A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper Decision #3 (1 page)

  • Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
  • Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
  • What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
  • Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Conclusion (1 page)

  • Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.

Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of five academic resources. While you may use the course text to support your rationale, it will not count toward the resource requirement. You should be utilizing the primary and secondary literature. A Young Caucasian Girl with ADHD Case Study Paper

Reminder : The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Also read: NURS 6501 Midterm Exam Answers