NURS6521 – Week 8 – Discussion

Discussion: Decision Making When
Treating Psychological Disorders
● Psychological disorders, such as depression, bipolar, and anxiety disorders can
present several complications for patients of all ages. These disorders affect
patients physically and emotionally, potentially impacting judgment, school and/or
job performance, and relationships with family and friends. Since these disorders
have many drastic effects on patients’ lives, it is important for advanced practice
nurses to effectively manage patient care. With patient factors and medical
history in mind, it is the advanced practice nurse’s responsibility to ensure the
safe and effective diagnosis, treatment, and education of patients with
psychological disorders.

●
● Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
For this Discussion, you will select an interactive media piece to practice decision
making when treating patients with psychological disorders. You will recommend the
most effective pharmacotherapeutic to treat the psychological disorder presented and
examine potential impacts of pharmacotherapeutics on a patient’s pathophysiology.
To Prepare
● Review this week’s interactive media pieces and select one to focus on for this
Discussion.
● Reflect on the decision steps in the interactive media pieces, and consider the
potential impacts from the administration of the associated pharmacotherapeutics
on the patient’s pathophysiology.
By Day 3 of Week 8
Post a brief explanation of the psychological disorder presented and the decision steps
you applied in completing the interactive media piece for the psychological disorder you
selected. Then, explain how the administration of the associated pharmacotherapeutics
you recommended may impact the patient’s pathophysiology. How might these potential
impacts inform how you would suggest treatment plans for this patient? Be specific and
provide examples.
By Day 6 of Week 8
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your
colleagues on two different days who selected a different interactive media piece on a
psychological disorder, and provide recommendations for alternative drug treatments to
address the patient’s pathophysiology.

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Rosenthal, L. D., & Burchum, J. R. (2021). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced
practice nurses and physician assistants (2nd ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
● Chapter 26, “Antipsychotic Agents and Their Use in Schizophrenia” (pp.
203–213)
● Chapter 27, “Antidepressants” (pp. 214–226)
● Chapter 28, “Drugs for Bipolar Disorder” (pp. 228–233)
● Chapter 29, “Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs” (pp. 234–242)
● Chapter 30, “Management of Anxiety Disorders” (pp. 243–247)
● Chapter 31, “Central Nervous System Stimulants and Attention-
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” (pp. 248–254)
Required Media (click to expand/reduce)
Laureate Education (Producer). (2019a). Adult geriatric depression [Interactive media
file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

In this interactive media piece, you will engage in a set of decisions for prescribing and
recommending pharmacotherapeutics to treat adult geriatric depression.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2019c). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
[Interactive media file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

In this interactive media piece, you will engage in a set of decisions for prescribing and
recommending pharmacotherapeutics to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2019d). Bipolar therapy [Interactive media file].
Baltimore, MD: Author.

In this interactive media piece, you will engage in a set of decisions for prescribing and
recommending pharmacotherapeutics for bipolar therapy.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2019g). Generalized anxiety disorder [Interactive
media file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

In this interactive media piece, you will engage in a set of decisions for prescribing and
recommending pharmacotherapeutics to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
Speed Pharmacology. (2016). Pharmacology – Antidepressants – SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs,
MAOIs, Lithium (Made Easy) [Video].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T25jvLC6X0w&t=3s
Note: This media program is approximately 19 minutes.
Speed Pharmacology. (2018). Pharmacology – Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates,
Hypnotics (Made Easy) [Video].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZHudeMho8g&t=24s