?
Write?a 1-page narrative in APA format that addresses the following:
- Explain the circumstances under which children should be prescribed drugs for off-label use. Be specific and provide examples.
- Describe strategies to make the off-label use and dosage of drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence. Include descriptions and names of off-label drugs that require extra care and attention when used in pediatrics.
- ?
2/7/22, 3:00 PM Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology
cdnfiles.laureate.net/2dett4d/Walden/NURS/6521/05/mm/decision_trees/week_02/index.html 1/2
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The client is an 8-year-old African American male who arrives at the ER with his mother. He is
exhibiting signs of depression.
Client complained of feeling ?sad?
Mother reports that teacher said child is withdrawn
from peers in class
Mother notes decreased appetite and occasional
periods of irritation
Client reached all developmental landmarks at
appropriate ages
Physical exam unremarkable
Laboratory studies WNL
Child referred to psychiatry for evaluation
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
Alert & oriented X 3, speech clear, coherent, goal directed, spontaneous. Self-reported mood
is ?sad?. Affect somewhat blunted, but child smiled appropriately at various points throughout
the clinical interview. He denies visual or auditory hallucinations. No delusional or paranoid
thought processes noted. Judgment and insight appear to be age-appropriate. He is not
endorsing active suicidal ideation, but does admit that he often thinks about himself being
dead and what it would be like to be dead.
You administer the Children’s Depression Rating Scale, obtaining a score of 30 (indicating
significant depression)
RESOURCES
? Poznanski, E., & Mokros, H. (1996). Child Depression Rating Scale–Revised. Los Angeles,
CA: Western Psychological Services.
2/7/22, 3:00 PM Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology
cdnfiles.laureate.net/2dett4d/Walden/NURS/6521/05/mm/decision_trees/week_02/index.html 2/2
Decision Point One
Select what you should do:
Begin Zoloft 25 mg orally daily
Begin Paxil 10 mg orally daily
Begin Wellbutrin 75 mg orally BID