Diagnosis of major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder
• Select a vulnerable patient from the list provided.
• Consider age, birth-assigned sex, FDA approvals, and risk and side-effect consideration.
• Select the most appropriate medication for your selected patient based upon the information provided.
• Review the textbook for commonly prescribed antidepressants, Fast Facts for Psychopharmacology for Nurse Practitioners.
• Conduct research through the FDA websiteLinks to an external site..
• Review prescriber information for professionals of the medications.
• Review national guidelines for prescribing for these vulnerable individuals:
o Depression Treatments for AdultsLinks to an external site.
o Depression Treatments for Older AdultsLinks to an external site.
o Depression Treatments for Children and AdolescentsLinks to an external site.
Step 1: Choose one of the following vulnerable patients to create a Medication Guide for the patient:
• Patient 1: 26-year-old female with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder who is increasing in isolation and poor self-care. She is in her third trimester of pregnancy.
• Patient 2: 16-year-old male with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, severe. He has seen a therapist weekly for the past 6 months and has had minimal change in symptoms. He has expressed thoughts of wanting to die.
• Patient 3: 72-year-old male with diagnosis of major depressive disorder and panic disorder. He has cardiac history and takes antihypertensive medications.
• Patient 4: 8-year-old Asian female with a diagnosis of severe depressive disorder presents to the office with a report of worsening symptoms. She has never taken psychotropic medication before.
Step 2: Create a Medication Guide for a patient. In your guide, you should provide the following specific instructions for the patient:
• Describe the chosen classification of medications, from the classification category, for your chosen vulnerable patient. Explain your rationale for your choice.
• Explain what dose you would start the chosen medication with and the frequency.
• Discuss how the medication works to treat their symptoms.
• Explain how long they should take the medication.
Sample Answer
Patient: 72-year-old male with Major Depressive Disorder and Panic Disorder with a cardiac history taking antihypertensive medications.
Chosen Medication Class: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Rationale for Choice:
- SSRIs are generally well-tolerated in older adults with fewer side effects compared to other antidepressants.
- They are less likely to interact with other medications, which is important considering the patient’s existing cardiac medications.