Below is the discussion in which you will write a response: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition that is associated with extreme feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and worry that become chronic and intrude upon the person’s ability to enjoy themself or complete daily activities. The topics of worry are usually related to money, health, school, work, and relationships. The concern is disproportionate to the reality of the situation and despite reassurance from family and friends, the feelings continue to be overwhelming. The person often is able to identify that their worry and anxiety is exaggerated but are still unable to redirect their thoughts and control their feelings. The psychological turmoil begins to manifest as physiological symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Research has demonstrated that this disorder is the result of a dysfunction of one or more brain chemistry and biological processes and is treatable with medication and psychotherapy (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). The case study of a 46-year-old white male who presents with symptoms of GAD with chest discomfort and shortness of breath was evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). This tool was first developed in 1959 for the determination of the severity of anxiety symptoms as seen in GAD. This tool has since continued to be used to evaluate and monitor the progress of patients and their response to interventions (Thompson, 2015). His initial HAM-A score of 26 reflects that he is suffering from moderate to severe anxiety (Hamilton, 1959). I decided to begin pharmacological treatment with Buspirone 10mg orally twice a day. My decision to trial the effectiveness of Buspirone first is based on studies that suggest this medication to be equally as effective as an SSRI, such as Zoloft in the treatment of GAD with less side effects (Canadian Agency of Drugs and Technologies in Health, 2012). At the four week follow up appointment with this 46-year-old white male, I found that he had only minimal improvement in his anxiety as determined by his new HAM-A score of 23 and his reports of only a slight decrease in his symptoms. My next decision was to discontinue the use of Buspirone and start Lexapro 10 mg by mouth daily. Lexapro is an SSRI that is a proven effective treatment option for moderate to severe GAD with less side effects than many other SSRIs (Landy & Estevez, 2021). At the four week followup, the 46-year-old white male reports significant improvement in his symptoms and scores a 13 on the HAM-A assessment. With this progress noted, treatment is recommended at the same dosage with only a change in administration time. Taking Lexapro at bedtime is suggested to address a report of drowsiness when taken in the morning. The patient will continue to be monitored and referred for psychotherapy for the continued improvement in his condition and to document his response to treatment. It is hopeful that this gentleman will continue to see improvement in his ability to manage his responsibilities at work and home. ANSWER. PAPER DETAILS Academic Level College Subject Area Nursing Paper Type Discussion Response Number of Pages 1 Page(s)/275 words Sources 2 Format APA Spacing Single Spacing If the sample didn’t load click the reload button belowReload Order a plagiarism free paper today !
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