Jane Sullivan Case Study

Answer

Jane Sullivan Case Study

1. What diagnosis would you give Jane? Provide a rationale and evidence for your answer.

Jane can be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, which is a diseases associated with excessive and persistent worry and anxiety about events or activities, including ordinary, routine issues. This disorder is often caused by an activity event which makes one worrisome or nervous (Goodwin, Yiend & Hirsch, 2017). In Jane, the disorder has been caused by her husband’s death. The patient exhibits symptoms such feeling nervous, having trouble in sleeping, having difficulty controlling worry, and restless; which are all linked to generalized anxiety disorder (Goodwin, Yiend & Hirsch, 2017). The disease can lead to undesirable verbal and physical behaviors, for example, talking or walking during sleep. It also causes trouble thinking as well concentration, and makes one to feel weak and tired.

1. What is your biggest concern for Jane? What should be addressed first?

The biggest concern for Jane is her pregnancy. Untreated generalized anxiety disorder can result in pregnancy complication, for example, failure to progress during labour, problems with neurodevelopment of the baby, high blood pressure, preterm delivery as well as low birth weight (Gentile, 2017). Once the fetus is delivered, Jane may as well have difficulty managing the different demands of the baby and creating a bond with him or her. As such, Jane’s worrisome or anxiety ought to be addressed first to avert health complication, including depression. Treating Jane’s would enable her to have good health and offer the necessary support to her children.

1. What pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions would you suggest?
   Provide rationale and evidence to support your answer.

The pharmacological interventions would include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to increase the level of serotonin in the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor plays an important role in blocking the reuptake or re-absorption of serotonin into neurons, resulting in the availability of more serotonin which improves or enhances transmissions of messages between neurons (Thibaut, 2017). On the other hand, physical activity is the best non-pharmacological intervention as it boosts the brain functionality. The patient should consider staying active and socially interact with people to reduce her worries. Being alone can result in a lot of negative thoughts that cause more worries as well as anxiety.

1. Due to the gestation of Jane’s pregnancy, what issues might influence your decision making process relative to pharmacological interventions? Provide rationale and
   evidence for your answer.

It is important to take into consideration the health of the fetus. Pharmacological intervention during gestation period can affect the development of the limbs and organs of the baby. Research shows that even a single episode of drug usage during the gestation period can significantly affect the full development of the fetus (Amundsen et al., 2015). In some cases, drug use during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or birth defect. As such, the drugs that may have to be prescribed for Jane must have zero effect on the development of the fetus. The drugs must also have minimal side effects on her health.

1. Do you think James warrants any interventions? If so, what interventions would you make? What developmental tasks, according to Erickson, are these recommendations based on? Provide rationale and evidence to support your answer.

James should be given paroxetine (Paxil) because it is non-addictive, effective, and has minimal side effects. The boy also needs psychological support and should be allowed to engage more with fellow children so that he can stay active and avoid being worrisome. The development tasks including trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and ego Integrity vs. despair help a child to grow with minimal problems. James needs industry, trust, and identity to overcome the current issues the family faces.

1. What military and government resources might be available to Jane as a military wife?

There is a Social Security Widow Benefits (https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Social-Security-Survivor-Benefits?serv=122 ) that Jane can get as a result of the husband service in the military. Social Security is a vital government resource available; however, claiming it requires one to make an appointment with the local United States Social Security Administration office. A one-time payment of $255 is waged to a widow in case she was living with the dead soldier. On a similar note, Jane is entitled to a death gratuity (https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Death-Gratuity-?serv=122), which presently stands at $100,000 as the husband, a military officer died due to his service.  The death gratuity is free from state and federal income tax for any service members who pass away when carrying out authorized travels to or from active duty or whereas on active duty.

1. In your community, what resources are available to young widows and widowers, as well as families of veterans killed in combat?

In Texas there is insurance benefit for widows whose husbands died while on military duty. The Texas Veteran Commission also provides VA pension to sustain widows and children after the death of a veteran in line of duty. There are also ancillary benefits for the dependents of a deceased veteran. These benefits are aimed at comforting the families of deceased and give them financially stability to get rid of stress associated with the loss of a loved one.