1. Jon goes to the doctor for an infection. His doctor writes two prescriptions and tells him that he must take both drugs if he wants to get better and that if he takes only one drug, he might not get better. He notices that they are both antibiotics and wonders why he must take two instead of one. Is the doctor just trying to make Jon buy more drugs?
2. Maria has a school-age child who has been told that she is hyperkinetic in school and must be prescribed stimulants. Maria is very confused because she knows that caffeine is a stimulant and she uses it every day to be more alert and increase her energy level in the morning. Has her school psychologist made a mistake?
3. Tina is caring for an infant who is running a very high fever and vomiting whenever Tina tries to feed him some water to keep him hydrated. If she continues to give him water to try to lower his body temperature and increase hydration and, as a result, he vomits more fluid than he is drinking, then he will only get more dehydrated, and his body temperature will rise. What do you think Tina should do to reduce the child’s fever, make him more comfortable, and enhance his ability to drink liquids?
4. Theo is in a car accident and is taken to the emergency room (ER). He tells the ER doctor that he has coronary heart disease and is taking medications to control his condition. The ER doctor notices that Theo has a large contusion on his leg and is bleeding profusely from his right arm. What does the doctor have to consider now that he has a better understanding of Theo’s medical history?
Chapter 22:1. Mr. Walden, a high school psychologist, was recently asked to consult with the teachers and parents of Robert, a student who is having academic and social problems. What types of tools would assist Mr. Walden in evaluating this student before the consultation?
2. Andrea, an extremely thin 19-year-old woman, tells Dr. Versace that she has not been menstruating. Although Andrea appears healthy from her physical exam, Dr. Versace thinks that Andrea may be suffering from anorexia nervosa. However, she notices that Andrea has pitted teeth. Why should that observation cause Dr. Versace to further consider the diagnosis?
3. Julie is receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for her depression. Her psychiatrist told her that they would improve her mood and mental alertness and make her more active. Meanwhile, Julie’s friend told her that he was prescribed an SSRI for panic attacks. Why are these two ailments being treated with the same class of drugs? Is one of these patients mistaken about the type of drug being taken?
4. Compare and discuss the different types of therapeutic modalities (Psychotherapy, Drug Therapy, and Electroconvulsive Therapy) for psychiatric disorders. Be sure to include the type of psychiatric disorders that each therapy would be utilized for.
5. Identify the categories of psychiatric drugs, and name commonly used drugs in each category.
6. What are two drugs that are often abused and are readily available at grocery stores? What are their effects, and why are they linked to substance-related disorders?
