ASSESSING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH ANXIETY DISORDERS (approach to treatment)

Clinical Requirement:

Common symptoms of anxiety disorders include chest pains, shortness of breath, and other physical symptoms that may be mistaken for a heart attack or other physical ailment. These manifestations often prompt patients to seek care from their primary care providers or emergency departments. Once it is determined that there is no organic basis for these symptoms, patients are typically referred to a psychiatric mental health practitioner for anxiolytic therapy. For this Assignment, as you examine the patient case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with anxiety disorders. This week you will be learning about Anxiety Disorder and PTSD and treatment options for those who suffer with these disorders. As with other mental health disorders, anxiety and PTSD may have varying presentations. It is imperative to address the many needs and concerns of patients seeking treatment. Treatment plans will be highly personalized and extensive background and history must be considered when developing a treatment plan. As always, it is important to recognize when prescribing medications there are ethical and legal considerations that must be addressed. We will begin to analyze and evaluate varying clinical situations to best treat your future patient populations. Please review the learning objectives, learning resources, *and medication resources for this week! Using this information, you will be able to complete your decision tree assignment.