16 Year Old Adolescent Case Study
16 Year Old Adolescent Case Study
Transitioning from childhood to adulthood takes place during the adolescent period. both the emotional and physical changes occur during this stage that could affect the psychological and behavioral norm of an individual (CDC, 2013).l. In the following case study, the initial concern areas leading to diagnosis of a 16-year-old adolescent patient include their thin and frail in appearance which suggests unhealthy dietary behaviors. The fact that he asks for diet pills means that he has appetite problems contributing to this condition as observed in many adolescents who experience weight gain or loss and change in appetite at this stage. Moreover, his concentration difficulties suggest the presence of a mental disorder. Screening tools for the patient include the habits questionnaire, substance abuse screening tool and among others. 16 Year Old Adolescent Case Study
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One health promotion strategy for adolescents is the creation of supportive environment for health in the society. This helps in the development of personal skills focused towards good healthy behaviors. Adolescents learn of the importance of nutrition in their health and understand what it entails (Golden, Schneider & Wood, 2016). Moreover, supportive environments create awareness on the different changes occurring during the adolescent stage and train children on how to embrace them positively. It also facilitates the identification of individuals with unhealthy dietary habits and advices them on the healthy eating habits. Consequently, the youths gain knowledge regarding the psychological and physical changes likely to occur and how to deal with them to avoid mental problems.
The treatment plan for the patient will include both the pharmacological approaches and the non-pharmacological (OTC) interventions. Antidepressants are effective pharmacological interventions for the patient suffering from mental disorders. The prescription drugs treat eating disorders as well as concentration problems as they alleviate the symptoms associated with depression. Prescribed atypical antipsychotics such as Zyprexa are also used to increase weight gain in frail and thin patients. Prozac, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI antidepressant improves depression symptoms and reduces thinness (Mehler & Andersen, 2017). Over the counter medication includes the herbal products, vitamins and nutritional supplements. 16 Year Old Adolescent Case Study
Laboratory tests help in identifying the correct diagnosis for a particular infection. In this case, the most probable tests include the complete blood test to determine some abnormalities in the blood that could result to infection. In addition, some specialized blood tests will be essential in checking the protein and electrolytes for detection of imbalances. On the other hand, a urinalysis can be conducted to identify changes in the urine composition caused by infections that could result in the patients’ symptoms. The thyroid, liver and kidney functioning will be tested using specialized laboratory tests.
The follow-up for the patient will be through weekly appointments which engage him in cognitive therapy. Close monitoring of the treatment progress will also be observed from these appointments. The client can also call for consultation regarding any unclear changes and in the event of adverse side effects and worsened symptoms; the patient is advised to visit the healthcare facility immediately. Notably, the patient will be educated on the changes occurring during the adolescent period and their impact if not taken positively. He will also be enlightened on the best nutritional therapy to undertake, how to improve his feeding habits and how to manage his mental status to prevent concentration problems. A referral of the patient will be done when the treatment provided fails to work as expected and it will help the underlying cause of his health problems.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Youth risk behavior surveillance
system (YRBSS). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm on August 10,2019
Golden, N. H., Schneider, M., & Wood, C. (2016). Preventing obesity and eating disorders in adolescents. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20161649.
Mehler, P. S., & Andersen, A. E. (2017). Eating disorders: A guide to medical care and complications. JHU Press.
16 Year Old Adolescent Case Study
