HLTH 1037 Assignment 2019.

HLTH 1037 Assignment 2019 - 1 -
MENTAL HEALTH ( HLTH 1037 )
CASE STUDY (SP-5 2019)
Student Name: Ipshita Pratap
Student ID: 110267758
School of Nursing and Midwifery,
University of South Australia

HLTH 1037 Assignment 2019 - 2 -
Assessment 3 – Case Study 2019
Using an Inquiry Based Learning Approach
Learning
strategy
Thought processes Learning Outcomes Section
STEP 1 -
CONNECT
The case is about a twenty eight year old
woman, Ms. Amanda, who had recently
attempted suicide due to relapse of Bipolar
Disorder. From the case study, it is evident that
Ms. Amanda suffers from bipolar disorder since
last 15 years. She has been taking continuous
medications and frequent psychiatric help ever
since she had been diagnosed with this disorder.
Her condition had improved during continuous
use of medications. However, she was reluctant
to take medications and had made several
attempts to discontinue them. This was due to the
fact that the side-effects of the prescribed
medications (Lithium carbonate XS and
Quetiapine) affected her Activities of Daily
Living (ADL). In spite of the prevailing side-
effects, these medications were important to
prevent episodes of mania, depression and
suicidal thoughts. She had also endured several
psychiatric and drug rehabilitation admissions in
the past. However, she was never offered support
after her discharge. This demonstrates the lack of

HLTH 1037 Assignment 2019 - 3 -
efficiency of the existing health care system in
assessing her overall health and identifying the
risk factors associated with the relapse of the
disease. Amanda was dedicated, sincere,
enthusiastic and highly competent in her work.
However, the relapse of the disease symptoms
led to health deterioration, functional impairment,
depression and suicidal thoughts. Hence, the
most important aspect for improving her health
outcome involved identification of the warning
signs and prompt intervention to prevent relapse
of the disease.
STEP 2 -
QUESTION
Various questions
that are critical to this case
study include:
1. What psychological
strategies were involved
to improve the patient’s
mental status?
2. Did the treatment
The rationale of these questions are as
follows:
1. The most important aspect in providing
holistic care is the identification of an
appropriate strategy. Bipolar disorder is a
mental illness and hence, acquiring complete
knowledge about the past strategies would
assist in providing quality care to the patient.
The strengths of the effective strategies may
be further exploited to devise a highly

HLTH 1037 Assignment 2019 - 4 -
involve
techniques/methods to
mitigate the side-effects
of her medications?
3. Was there any
environmental stimuli
that aggravated her
condition?
4. What measures were
specialised care plan.
2. The patient was facing ADL (activities of
daily living) difficulties due to the side-
effects of the prescribed medications.
However, her medications could not be
discontinued as they were essential for
providing symptomatic relief. Hence, it was
important to investigate whether any
techniques/methods were being used to
control the adverse effects of
pharmacotherapy.
3. Identification of the factors responsible for
negative health outcomes would assist in
prompt intervention and early management of
bipolar disorder. As per the case study, work-
related stress and work pressure were directly
related with the deterioration of Amanda’s
mental status. Hence, it was important to
know whether this was the only aggravating
factor or were there other stimuli as well.
This knowledge would aid in formulating an
effective health care plan.
4. Letters to the case manager of the local