Case Study Analysis: Mental Illness, Aggression, and Care Services

This case study examines the complex challenges in providing care to a patient experiencing mental health issues, specifically focusing on aggressive behavior and its impact on care services. The patient, an elderly individual, exhibits anxiety, stress, and refusal to eat, leading to aggressive outbursts and difficulties for care staff. The analysis delves into the issues of patient safety, dignity, and the ineffectiveness of current care strategies. It discusses the application of behavioral and cognitive theories to understand the patient's behavior and proposes solutions such as counseling, patient-centered care plans, and improved communication with family members. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to mental health care, including the development of tailored care plans that consider the patient's emotional and physical needs, as well as the importance of staff training and support. The conclusion stresses the significance of a patient-centered care approach and the integration of various interventions to improve the patient's well-being and address their behavioral challenges effectively.

Case study
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
DESCRIPTION...............................................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Mental health problems are those that highly impact on person behaviour. There are several
causes of mental illness such as trauma, loss of memory, etc. Also, it can occur due to stress,
depression, etc. (Corrigan, Bink and Schmidt, 2017) However, mental disorder is also a cause
of mental health problem. The main purpose of is to reflect on the wat of how behaviour of
person creates problem in providing care services.
In current case study, the problem that has to be solved is how to deal with aggressive
behaviour of patient. Furthermore, a plan will be developed to provide proper care services to
patient. So, focus will be on dealing with mental illness of person and improving his health.
DESCRIPTION
The case is regarding an old person who is a dad. He is suffering from mental health problems.
So, due to it there is change in his behaviour and attitude. Also, the main issue is mental illness.
Due to this, person sometimes gets anxious or stressed. With this change in behaviour he
becomes aggressive. Thus, it is impacting on his physical health as well. Whenever he is stressed
or anxious, he refuses to eat. This highly impact on behaviour and his aggressiveness increases.
Therefore, anxiety disorders occur in person. the disorder occurs when anxiety symptom or
person gets panic or worry about any activity or event. It can occur daily or depend on situation.
The person refused to take medicine. Alongside, when he become aggressive, he starts beating
other patient and staff. He also refused to participate in any activity. There came a situation
where person created a lot of nuisance in care home. At night he got anxious and started breaking
things. and if anyone came to stop him, he started beating them. the staff was also not able to
control situation (Dieterich and et.al., 2017). Then, security guard was called upon to control
him and whole situation. He did things of his wish and always behaved rudely with others. Many
a times he fights with other without any reason. Also, for feeling safe he locked himself inside a
room. It is showed that he did not eat anything the entire day and next day as well. So, in care
home the staff is not able to deal with him as he behaves very rudely. While providing care he
acts aggressively and make things worse. Due to his behaviour staff is not able to provide proper
care services. It has become difficult and harsh for staff to deal with person. Moreover, not
getting care services is impacting on patient mental health adversely. It is also a reason for his
anxiousness. Thus, his behaviour is getting worse day by day. I am angry with staff because they
are not following certain things or way which I have provided in order to deal with my dad. If the
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followed the things it would be easy for them to provide care services to dad. Due to that he was
not feeling safe (Dixon, Holoshitz and Nossel, 2016). I always gave them idea of what things
have to be taken into consideration. But neither the staff nor care home management listened to
me. Despite saying them again and again, no action or measure was taken. So, I was angry with
them. There was no change in care plan. They also were not listening to my advice. I got very
frustrated as well.
In case study, main issues involved is patient safety and maintaining and respecting his
dignity. It means as patient is aggressive it can harm himself by involving in any activity. So,
safety issue might occur in it. Another issue is patient dignity is not maintained while providing
care. The staff may ignore the needs of patient and provide care in ineffective way.
DISCUSSION
The case study shows that a person is facing mental health problem. He becomes aggressive
and anxious during stress. So, due to this he is to able to respond to things in effective way.
However, the care home is also not able to provide appropriate health care services to patient.
Moreover, it is identified that person behaviour has become worse in recent times. Thus, he
refuses to eat and gets anxious (Grob, 2019). Furthermore, the staff of care home is not able to
deal with the behaviour of patient. They are not providing him care services. It has become
difficult and harsh for staff to deal with person. Moreover, not getting care services is impacting
on patient mental health adversely. It is also a reason for his anxiousness. Thus, his behaviour is
getting worse day by day.
From case study it is analysed that there are many issues that occurred in it. Due to that issue
person was not getting appropriate health care services. From case there are many issues that is
identified. first is safety issue is which due to aggressiveness staff is not able to provide safety to
him. This can result in physical harm of person. so, issue is related to care home staff and patient.
The staff has to ensure that patient safety is properly maintained. Thus, while providing care
patient safety has to be taken into consideration.
Another issue is not respecting the dignity of patient. In this staff may not respect dignity of
person. it means that while providing care, staff may ignore patient needs. As patient suffers
from mental illness staff may think that providing care will not result in any improvement.
Therefore, in this person dignity is harmed (Nestler and et.al., 2016
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Pilgrim, 2019). The stakeholders involved in it are patient and his family members. They can
involve in supporting patient needs and staff to deal with it.
There are various theories of mental health that can be applied in this case study. The
theories also relate with issue mentioned in case study. However, issues also link to theories that
is applied. So, the theories are as follows :-
Behavioural- It is also a theory that is based on behaviour of a person. it refers to learning which
involve stimuli and rewards. This means to identify what causes a person problem to change his
or her behaviour with operant, classical and modelling principles. Due to change in conditioning,
stimuli react. Thus, it enables in determining change in behaviour. This theory is applicable to
case study as person behaviour is main issue. His stimuli reaction is quick and respond in
negative way. There is instant change in behaviour of person. moreover, he behaves in bad
manner with others.
Cognitive – This theory deals with person mental situation. It includes factors such as perception,
thinking and learning things. In this branch of science is psychology, linguistics and philosophy.
it describes influence of individual action, experience and environmental factor on their
behaviour. Here, behavioural outcomes are evaluated due to change in those factors. similarly,
this theory relate to case as person behaviour is affected when he gets anxious or feel stressed.
His behaviour becomes aggressive (Underwood and Washington, 2016). However, due to
change in this the outcome is he refuses to eat and it impact on physical health as well. Beside
this, patient himself does not know why he gets stressed and what makes him anxious. He is not
able to control his anger. That’s, the reason there is change in his behaviour.
Thus, these theories help in dealing with issue. It reflects the way in which mental illness
can be improved.
There are several ideas and solutions that can be followed to deal with mental illness or
issue. it will be easy for staff of care home to provide care services. However, by following those
patient behavior can be changed. By assessing patient mental state, it their main issue or cause
can be identified. Through that, care plan can be developed and followed. Along with it, by
regularly communicating with patient their needs and behavior is analyzed and accordingly
measures are taken. Furthermore, it will help in sharing what patient feel. So, by effective
communication will be useful in building relationship with patient. Thus, there feelings can be
shared. By that patient can be made comfortable. Another solution that can be followed is
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providing counselling to patient (Vigo, Thornicroft and Atun, 2016). Here, a counselor can
make help in analyzing patient behavior. The person can understand emotional wellness of
patient. Then on basis of condition a treatment plan is developed. In that professionals will work
with patient to improve their mental health. In addition to it, another solution is by providing
sensitive patient centered care model can be used.
Similarly, it is necessary for care home staff to select appropriate idea and implement it. In this
case, the ideas that can be implemented are taking help of counselor. It is because as patient
behavior is aggressive the counselor will work with him and analyze experience and emotions.
This will help in making counselor to identify reason why he gets anxious and in what situation
he feel stressed. As mental counselors are experts in dealing with patient suffering from mental
illness. Therefore, information can be gained on how to improve mental health. Hence, a
treatment plan can be developed and executed (Corrigan, Bink and Schmidt, 2017). Moreover,
counselor can also guide and provide training to staff of care home on how to deal with situation
and treat the patient. The counselor can also give or suggest some ideas or solutions to family
members on how to deal with patient. By understanding the patient mental illness and behavior,
counselor can easily handle it. With that communication can be strengthened. The patient needs
will be identified and fulfilled. There will be change in environment in patient surrounding.
Hence, behavior will be changed. By working closely with counselor patient will feel safe and
comfortable.
Moreover, patient centered care plan can also be used in dealing with patient. Here, in plan 8
components are followed. In this patient will be respected by all means. His thoughts and
feelings will be respected. Also, he will be given education and information. This means patient
will be educate.
By providing physical comfort to my dad that means to make surrounding environment
according to his needs. So, in care home a separate room can be provided to him. Likewise, by
giving him emotional support as well in plan, behavior can be improved. The plan will include
involving family and friends as well (Dieterich and et.al., 2017). so, by involving them it will be
easy to provide outside support to patient. Then, the plan will be continually followed until a
specific time. Therefore, overall care facilities can be included in this model.
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CONCLUSION
It is summarized that in case study a person is suffering from mental illness. So, the main
issue is behavioural change. He is becoming aggressive and remain stressed most of times. Also,
the two theories that are relatable to case are behavioural and cognitive. In this solution or idea
that can be followed is by taking help of counsellor and developing patient centred care plan.
The recommendations that can be followed is staff must develop a patient centred care plan.
It is because by this becomes easy to identify needs and develop plan accordingly. The plan will
include all essential things necessary to treat patient. The main reason is that plan will focus on
patient overall needs. Through it, both emotional and physical support can be provided.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Corrigan, P.W., Bink, A.B. and Schmidt, A., 2017. 22 Reducing Physical Illness Stigma: Insights
from the Mental Illness Arena. The Oxford Handbook of Stigma, Discrimination, and
Health, p.413.
Dieterich, M., and et.al., 2017. Intensive case management for severe mental illness. Cochrane
database of systematic reviews, (1).
Dixon, L.B., Holoshitz, Y. and Nossel, I., 2016. Treatment engagement of individuals
experiencing mental illness: review and update. World Psychiatry, 15(1), pp.13-20.
Grob, G.N., 2019. Mental illness and American society, 1875-1940 (Vol. 5316). Princeton
University Press.
Nestler, E.J. and et.al., 2016. Epigenetic basis of mental illness. The Neuroscientist, 22(5),
pp.447-463.
Pilgrim, D., 2019. Key concepts in mental health. SAGE Publications Limited.
Underwood, L. and Washington, A., 2016. Mental illness and juvenile offenders. International
journal of environmental research and public health, 13(2), p.228.
Vigo, D., Thornicroft, G. and Atun, R., 2016. Estimating the true global burden of mental
illness. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(2), pp.171-178.
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