The scatter-brained
I NEED A RESPONSE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT
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Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter
This is a 26-year-old female patient with a recent diagnosis of ADHD and GAD after finding out that her 8-year-old daughter had ADHD. The patient reported symptoms of missing appointments and late for appointments, disorganized behavior, feeling overwhelmed from taking care of her two children and life in general, and unable to maintain a regular schedule. The patient reported that she always had poor academic performances, intimidated by exams, always worried about the future, and says sometimes mentally “freezes when it gets to be too much.” She reports exhibiting the same symptoms as her 8-year-old daughter who also had ADHD during her childhood. The patient had a history of dropping out of high school after getting pregnant. She was married at age 17 and divorced at age 19 which led to two children ages 8 and 6. She worries a lot about the children’s future and education. The children’s father is not involved with their care children. The patient is adopted, therefore her biological parents’ past medical and mental histories are not known. The patient smokes cigarettes but denies alcohol and drug use. She has a full-time job in a retail store
3 Questions
The mental healthcare nurse practitioner needs to ask this patient what exactly makes her worry about the future of her children. Obtaining this information would alert the mental health nurse if she has any intension of harming herself or others. The patient is worried about her children’s future. She has ADHD and GAD. Maintaining safety should always be the #1 priority of the mental health professional. Untreated ADHD can also lead to, or contribute to depressive disorder. It is estimated that 20% of patients diagnosed with ADHD also have major depressive disorder and depression (Kulacaoglu, & Kose, n.d.). The mental health nurse should ask this patient if she was abused growing up. This patient was adopted and was not brought up by her biological parents. Obtaining this information would alert the mental healthcare nurse to know the kind of upbringing that she had. Information on how long she has been experiencing these symptoms should be obtained; Untreated or under-treated adult ADHD may result in impaired occupational functioning and interpersonal and legal difficulties. ADHD in adults is associated with higher separation and divorce rates and more frequent job change (Gentile, Atiq, & Gillig, 2006).
