Understanding Mental Health and Illness: A Case Study Analysis

This case study analysis discusses the understanding of mental health and illness, the relationship between physical and mental health, potential recovery process, and best evidence-based interventions for a 22-year-old female client with acute anxiety.

Running head: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Introduction:
The provided case study deals with a 22 year old female client Georgia, who is
supposedly a victim of acute anxiety. She has reported to feel symptoms of anxiety for a
considerable period of time. She has shifted from her full time course to part time course because
of her inability to cope with academic stress and fear of failure. The client has further revealed
her inability to learn driving because she found it stressful and almost met with an accident to be
the reasons why she has given up driving. Further, the client has mentioned to feel exhausted
most of the times with shortness of breath, abnormal sleeping pattern and accelerated heart-beat.
The case study also mentions the client’s mother to be suffering from acute anxiety. This essay
would present a discussion on the understanding of the mental health. It would further highlight
the existing relationship between physical and mental health. Also, the potential recovery process
would be explained in relation to the best evidence-based interventions and the professional
implication while dealing with the client.
Understanding mental health and illness:
Mental health illness can be defined as the disturbed state of mind that affects the normal
process of thinking of an individual (Zaretsky,2013). It can be said that the illness is not just
restricted to how one thinks, but also affects how one feels, acts or perceives the immediate
environment. Studies mention that the detection of a mental health is exceedingly difficult on
account of the absence of detectable physical symptoms (Vives et al., 2013); (Zaretzky,2013).
Also, the severity of the symptoms and the process in which an individual is affected from one
individual to the other varies significantly. It should also be noted that the success rate of the
recovery process broadly depends upon the initial detection of the symptoms.

2CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
A combination of genetic, environmental and personal experience can lead to the
triggering of a mental health disorder. Researchers have identified some common mental health
symptoms that include, severe mood swings, social withdrawal, sleep abnormalities, substance
abuse, hallucination and suicidal-ideation (Zannas & West, 2014); (Trigueri-Mas et al., 2015).
On feeling one of these symptoms it is recommended to immediately seek professional help. The
psychotherapist then examines the patient based upon Mental State Evaluation Score and
diagnoses the possibility of developing a mental health disorder. On the basis of the diagnosis,
therapeutic interventions are suggested to the patients.
In close association to the provided case study, the vulnerability model can be used to
explain the probable cause of anxiety in the patient. The stress vulnerability model highlights
two important aspects that could possibly serve as the pathway to develop stress and anxiety
(Zannas & West, 2014). The first being the pre-existing genetic trait and the second being the
environmental influence (Zannas & West, 2014). As has already been mentioned that the client’s
mother has anxiety, it can be said that the client has developed the disorder on account of the
genetic inheritance and also because of the environmental influence of academic stress. Also, the
reluctant approach of the client to socialize, constant feeling of exhaustion and abnormal sleep
pattern can be tightly linked to the symptoms of mental health disorder.
Relationship between mental health and physical health:
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health to be a complete wellbeing of
physical, mental and social health and not just the absence of an infirmity (WHO, 2014). It can
thus be said that the mental wellness is tightly linked to the physical well-being of an individual.
Researchers have evaluated the existence of multiple associations between mental health and

3CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
physical health and have predicted the corresponding impact on the quality of life, demand of
health care assistance and consequent impact on the society. As mentioned in the studies, it can
be sad that poor mental health serves as a risk factor to develop chronic illness and deteriorate
the physical health (Spielberger et al., 2017).
In addition to this, it can also be said that mental health patients possess a higher
probability to develop chronic physical disorders (Spielberger,2013). Similarly, people with
chronic physical illness are at an increased risk of developing a mental health disorder. The
social determinants of health affect physical as well as the mental health of the individuals. In
order to ensure prevention, it is important to incorporate elements such as access to nutritious
food, ensuring adequate income, enhancing physical activity and access to social support and
inclusion (Vives et al., 2013).
The determinants can effectively reduce the risk related to the development of a physical
health disorder or mental imbalance. Researchers mention that, the first step of complete
wellness requires the identification of the connection between physical and mental health and
accordingly devise strategies to effectively deal with the complications that can benefit both the
physical as well as mental health (Vives et al., 2013).
In relation to the case study, it can be said that Georgia, has been perturbed because of
her anxiety problems and fear of failure. This can be attributed as the major reason why she has
not been able to shine on the academic front and has not been able to deal with general abilities
such as learning how to drive. Further, this has made her pragmatic and affected her ability to
socialize. It has affected her sleep pattern and this might affect her physical health considerably,
making her weak and susceptible to chronic illness disorders such as cardiac complications.

4CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Understanding Potential Recovery:
Recovery can be defined as the process of healing. The process of recovery focuses on
the wellness of the patient and not just on treating the symptoms of mental health disorder. It
ensures helping patients to look beyond mere survival and instill faith and hope in them so that
they are able to manage life despite being affected with a mental illness (Spielberger, 2013). In
context of the case study, it can be said that Georgia must be empowered with personal-recovery
skills and strategies. In addition to this, Georgia must be able to implement self-regulation and
undertake the ownership of her course of action. This would enhance and accelerate the process
of recovery.
It can be further stated that in context to the case study, complete recovery for Georgia
would incorporate factors such as, feeling positive about herself and the surrounding, self-control
and confidence to face situations independently and complete stabilization of her physiological
symptoms such as increased heart beat, shortness of breath and impaired sleep pattern. Complete
recovery would allow Georgia to deal with regular activities in an efficient way and at the same
time maintain an optimistic outlook towards life.
Best treatment intervention:
The mental health issue that has been diagnosed to affect the client is stress and anxiety.
The factors that could have potentially led to the dearth of the problem in the patient have
already been discussed in the previous paragraphs. In order to formulate a successful intervention
plan some of the effective evidence-based strategies collected from research studies would be
discussed. The proposed intervention plan for the client should comprise of medication assisted
with the administration of cognitive behavioral therapies. Research studies mention mindfulness-

5CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
based cognitive therapy to be extremely effective in treating disorders related to anxiety and
stress (Nassif & Wells, 2014).
In addition to this medication devised should primarily comprise of mild dosage of
sedatives and tranquillizers that would help in restoring normal sleep pattern. Administration of
Benzodiazepines such as Zolpidem and Diazepam can effectively help in restoring a stable and
peaceful mental state. The dose given should essentially be a mild one, ranging from 2-10
milligram, orally twice a day (McEwen & Morrison, 2013). Studies have reported effective
results in restoring normal sleep pattern on administration of mild doses of sedatives in patients
with anxiety (Nassif & Wells, 2013). In addition to this, it should be noted here that the dose of
the medication must depend on the severity of the degree of symptoms and should be decided in
consultation with a psychotherapist. Also studies reveal that medication related to anxiety must
not be continued in order to avoid problems related to drug addiction (Lyons, 2015).
Further, one to one counseling session can prove to be effective in controlling the
symptoms of anxiety. Engaging the client in a session of narrative therapy can also help in
controlling the symptoms to a great extent. Narrative therapy engages the client in a therapeutic
session and enables the client to identify their inherent values and utilize the acquired knowledge
to love up to their values. The therapy involves open-ended interview session to empower the
client with confidence and assure their ability to confront critical situations confidently.
Narrative therapy has been found to be an ideal intervention for the treatment of anxiety.
Also, administration of cognitive behavioral therapy has been reported to be extremely
effective to treat anxiety (Hofmann & Otto, 2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy essentially
comprise of two important elements cognition pertaining to the negative thoughts and behavior

6CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
that determine the reaction to the negative thoughts (Kemp & Quintana, 2013). Psychotherapist,
thus proceed with the identification of the negative thoughts and replace it with feelings of
optimism and positivity.
Mindfulness based therapy such as practicing yoga and meditation has also been reported
to yield significant positive results in treating anxiety and stress (Eysenc, 2014). According to
studies, meditation and yoga helps in channelizing the negative thoughts into positive energy
(Gwozdziewycz & Mehl-Madrona, 2013). In addition to this yoga would also help in treating the
shortness of breath and the constant feeling of fatigue and weakness.
Implication for Practice:
As a responsible health care professional, it is expected that the assigned professional
who would be dealing with Georgia must comply with the ethical guidelines of nursing
profession (Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.,2018). The professional should comply stringently
with the NMBA guidelines and provide an effective person-centred holistic care to the client.
This means that the professional must educate the patient about her medical health condition and
devise the intervention based upon a patient-centred care approach
(Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.,2018).
Further, the professional should consider the opinion of the patient through each step of
the treatment process and actively engage her in the decision making process. The carer must
also involve the family members of the patient and adapt a family-centred approach so as to
consult the opinion of the immediate care providers whilst undertaking any critical decision
making (Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.,2018). Further, the carer at all times should respect
patient autonomy and make sure that the client is comfortable with the care plan

7CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
(Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.,2018). Mental health is perceived as a stigma in the society and
that accounts for the primary reason why it often gets overlooked. Health care professionals have
also been reported to adapt a stigmatized approach while dealing with mental health patients
especially while dealing with the members of indigenous community (Pulvirenti et al., 2014).
This attitude must be done away with and professionals must be competent to provide an
effective treatment regime to the patients (Lyons, 2015). The idea not be restricted to simply
treat the symptoms but should be broadly based upon improving the standard of life for the
mental health patients (Levesque et al., 2013). The professionals should endeavor to make life
more than mere existing and empower the patients with positive thoughts so as to change the
over-all outlook of their life.
Conclusion:
Hence to conclude, it can be said that mental health is often overlooked in the society.
This is primarily on account of the absence of physical symptoms that are easily detected in case
of a physical ailment. A number of issues such as anxiety, stress and depression can pile up if
untreated at the initial stage over the years and accumulate to assume a major mental health
disorder. Mental health is directly proportional to physical health and hence, it can be said that a
healthy body often reflects a healthy and happy mind. A number of environmental factors can
lead to the dearth of anxiety in an individual, which could be stress related to personal life,
professional life or even emotional conflict.
It is important to identify the initial symptoms and seek professional help so as to
prevent the condition from worsening. Treatment intervention devised for mental health illness
often comprises of a combination of medication along with therapy. The underlying principle is

8CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
to effectively treat the existing negative thoughts and change the negative perception of the client
towards life. Professionals dealing with mental health patients must comply with the ethical
guidelines and commit themselves to provide quality care so as to yield positive patient
outcomes.

9CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
References:
Baer, R. A. (Ed.). (2015). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician's guide to
evidence base and applications. Elsevier.pp.68
Eysenck, M. (2014). Anxiety and cognition: A unified theory. Psychology Press.pp.111-115
Gwozdziewycz, N., & Mehl-Madrona, L. (2013). Meta-analysis of the use of narrative exposure
therapy for the effects of trauma among refugee populations. The Permanente
Journal, 17(1), 70.
Hofmann, S. G., & Otto, M. W. (2017). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety
Disorder: Evidence-Based and Disorder Specific Treatment Techniques. Routledge.pp.71
Kemp, A. H., & Quintana, D. S. (2013). The relationship between mental and physical health:
insights from the study of heart rate variability. International Journal of
Psychophysiology, 89(3), 288-296.
Levesque, J. F., Harris, M. F., & Russell, G. (2013). Patient-centred access to health care:
conceptualising access at the interface of health systems and populations. International
journal for equity in health, 12(1), 18.
Lyons, A. (2015). Patient-centred care. Good Practice, (11), 22.
McEwen, B. S., & Morrison, J. H. (2013). The brain on stress: vulnerability and plasticity of the
prefrontal cortex over the life course. Neuron, 79(1), 16-29.

10CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Nassif, Y., & Wells, A. (2014). Attention training reduces intrusive thoughts cued by a narrative
of stressful life events: A controlled study. Journal of clinical psychology, 70(6), 510-
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Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. (2018). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Guidelines.
Retrieved from https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-
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Pulvirenti, M., McMillan, J., & Lawn, S. (2014). Empowerment, patient centred care and self‐
management. Health Expectations, 17(3), 303-310.
Spielberger, C. D. (Ed.). (2013). Anxiety: Current trends in theory and research. Elsevier.pp.35
Spielberger, C. D., Gonzalez-Reigosa, F., Martinez-Urrutia, A., Natalicio, L. F., & Natalicio, D.
S. (2017). The state-trait anxiety inventory. Revista Interamericana de
Psicologia/Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 5(3 & 4).
Triguero-Mas, M., Dadvand, P., Cirach, M., Martínez, D., Medina, A., Mompart, A., ... &
Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. (2015). Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical
health: relationships and mechanisms. Environment international, 77, 35-41.
Vives, A., Amable, M., Ferrer, M., Moncada, S., Llorens, C., Muntaner, C., ... & Benach, J.
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11CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Zannas, A. S., & West, A. E. (2014). Epigenetics and the regulation of stress vulnerability and
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