PRAC 6645 Assignment: Journal Entry M.W is an 8-year-old A. A male client referred for psychotherapy by his PCP due to hyperactive, impulsive behavior that was more severe than children of his age

PRAC 6645 Assignment: Journal Entry M.W is an 8-year-old A. A male client referred for psychotherapy by his PCP due to hyperactive, impulsive behavior that was more severe than children of his age

PRAC 6645 Assignment: Journal Entry

M.W is an 8-year-old A. A male client referred for psychotherapy by his PCP due to hyperactive, impulsive behavior that was more severe than children of his age

. His impulsive behavior had caused problems at school and at home. Her mother reported that the child was often hyperactive, easily distracted, and engaged in activities without thinking of the consequences. The class teacher had reported that the client had a short attention span, makes many mistakes in his homework, talked excessively, and memory and thinking defects. He has no history of chronic illnesses. The PCP had prescribed Concerta 10 mg once daily.

Based on the client’s presenting features, he has a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The DSM-V criteria for the diagnosis of ADHD include inattentive and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Inattentive features include difficulty organizing things, not paying close attention to tasks, missing small details, failing to finish work, not seeming to listen when spoken to, avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort, and being forgetful (APA, 2013). Hyperactive features include: fidgeting, climbing on things, leaving their seat, being loud, talking excessively, blurting out answers, having trouble waiting their turn, interrupting and intruding on others (APA, 2013). The client has a presumptive diagnosis of ADHD based on pertinent positive findings of hyperactive and impulsive behavior, being easily distracted, shortened attention span, making mistakes in his work, and talking excessively.

When counseling M.W, the PMHNP must consider ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. For instance, the therapist must obtain consent from the child’s parents and involve them in making decisions about his therapy (Wheeler, 2014). The PMHNP can uphold beneficence and nonmaleficence by selecting an evidence-based psychotherapy approach whose efficacy in ADHD has been established (Hooley, 2016). The therapist should also monitor the client’s progress to ascertain that the therapy approach promotes the best possible outcome (Hooley, 2016). Lastly, the therapist must maintain the confidentiality of the patient’s information and seek consent before sharing his information.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.