Mental Health Case Analysis of Alison: NRSG264 Assignment, University

This report provides a detailed analysis of Alison's case, a 38-year-old mother diagnosed with clinical depression. The analysis applies Levett-Jones' clinical reasoning cycle to assess her condition, focusing on financial stressors, childcare concerns, and the protective role of her sister. The Mental State Examination (MSE) reveals a timid and miserable appearance, broken speech, and tearfulness, while DSM-5 identifies 'Depression with anxiety disorder.' The report explores healthcare issues, emphasizing the impact of financial constraints and the potential effects on her children. It recommends a recovery-oriented approach, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and support systems. As a nursing professional, the author would address Alison's concerns through interventions like financial aid information and CBT. The evaluation process involves patient consent and regular assessments of mood and cognitive abilities. The case study highlights the importance of the clinical reasoning cycle, MSE, and DSM-5 in understanding patient conditions and developing effective mental healthcare strategies, including the application of CBT to improve her health condition.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
MENTAL HEALTH CASE ANALYSIS OF ALISON
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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The primary aim of this paper is to reflect on the case scenario of Alison, who is 38
year old and mother of two children and has been diagnosed as the sufferer of clinical
depression. While reflecting in this clinical condition of Alison, the clinical reasoning cycle
by Levett-Jones will be implemented (Liou et al., 2016). In the session, Alison mentioned
that her financial condition and her inability to take care of their kids are the primary
concerns due to which she is feeling low and depressed (University of Nottingham, 2012).
She mentioned of working in a supermarket, however, in recent times due to her depression
condition and reduction in wages, her financial condition has been compromised. She also
mentioned that due to her financial lacking, she is unable to meet her kid’s demands of new
games and toys and due to this her bills are continuously increasing (University of
Nottingham, 2012). Besides these there are several stressors due to which her depression
condition is increasing such as her inability as a mother as she mentioned that her kids are
self-sufficient and taking care of their own needs. However, her sister is the protective factor
of her health condition, as it was mentioned that due to her sisters concern she was able to
visit the healthcare facility to seek treatment (University of Nottingham, 2012).
As a mental healthcare professional it is important to assess different factors of
Alison’s mental condition so that the reason of such condition could be obtained and effective
treatment could be provided to the patient to limit her sufferings (University of Nottingham,
2012). In the given scenario, it is important to implement the biophysical approach and as per
Willox et al. (2015), the primary aspect of biophysical approach Mental State Examination
should be implemented. Implementing the MSE in the given patient condition should be done
with the help of General Physician and the findings that could collected from the
implemented MSE mentioned that the appearance of the patient was timid and miserable.
Throughout the interview session she did not make eye contact with the GP and it indicated
towards her lack of confidence and nervousness (University of Nottingham, 2012). Despite

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this, her clear thought process and abilities to understand the situation indicated towards
string cognitive abilities. Her speech was broken and she took time to frame her responses
due to her frequent tearfulness. However, due to her mention of suicide her distorted
cognitive thinking could be observed. Further, it was noted that throughout the interview
session, she was tearful, sobbing and hence her mood was very low and gloomy in the entire
process (University of Nottingham, 2012). Despite of multiple feelings regarding harming her
own life at night, she did not performed any of such attempts. Therefore, from the above-
mentioned MSE summarisation, it could be stated that her static risk factor was associated
with her financial burden and loneliness, whereas her episodes of mood swings and lack of
mood could be mentioned as the dynamic risk factor.
After analysing the above-mentioned data and analysing the Mental State
Examination (MSE), DSM-5 should be implemented in the patient assessment so that
accurate assessment could be conducted and it was found that she is suffering from
‘Depression with anxiety disorder’ (Grant et al., 2015). Series of symptoms such as improper
mood, inability to concentrate and focus on her kids’ needs and low and affected thought
process of losing control over life events indicated to the fact that she has developed
depression with anxiety disorder. Further, due to these, she has developed risk factors related
to self-harm, and inability to concentrate on her life (Gold, 2014).
Further analysis related to identification of her healthcare issues as per the clinical
reasoning cycle Dalton, Gee and Levett-Jones (2015) it was obtained that her financial
condition is the primary concern of her mental condition and the concern that this financial
lack could affect her kids growth is another concern of the patient. It was seen that Alison is
concerned that due to her inability to focus on her kid’s needs, her kids may develop thoughts
that could make them feel unsafe around their mother. Further, due to inability to completely
focus on her growth and development, she was concerned that it could affect their education

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and future life. Besides these, due to her low mood and mental concern her relationship with
Dave was also at stake that increased her problematic condition (University of Nottingham,
2012).
Hence, while developing health care for Alison, the recovery oriented approach
should be implemented so that with application of therapies like the cognitive behavioural
therapy, she could develop abilities to coping skills that would help her to overcome her
health condition eventually (Musiat & Tarrier, 2014).
If I am working as a nursing professional for the care of Alison, I would be
considering her mental concerns related to her children, her financial condition and her life so
that in my care interventions, all these aspects could be targeted. As per Reme et al. (2015),
healthcare for her children at hoe could be one of the aspect using which her health condition
could be improved. Further, I would provide her knowledge about some single mother
stipend system that is provided by the Australian government so that her financial condition
could be improved. Finally, as a nursing professional, I would implement the cognitive
behavioural therapy on Alison for her speedy recovery.
The evaluation process for Alison would be finalised with the help of patient and with
her consent a data would be decided so that she could be assessed for her improvements
(University of Nottingham, 2012). Further, her mood and cognitive ability would be assessed
depending on her ability to develop positive and constructive thinking. Further, if the patient
did not provide expected outcome, the intervention would be applied for a longer time period
so that effective and improved patient outcome could be received.
Hence, conduction of the case analysis helped me to understand the implementation
of MSE and DSM5 for the patient analysis and hence, I was able to understand the way
interview should be conducted with patients that are suffering from mental health concerns.

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This experience would help me to develop and conduct effective care for patients suffering
from depression and anxiety in future.
Hence, after conducting this entire process, it could be mentioned that application of
clinical reasoning cycle is important to understand the critical aspect of mental and physical
health affecting patient condition (Dalton, Gee & Levett-Jones, 2015). Hence, the CRC was
applied in Alison’s health condition so that her mental health conditional nd associated
stressors could be assessed. Further, this case study analysis also implemented MSE and
DSM 5 to find out the accurate concern of patient due to which she is unable to lead a normal
life and developing mental concerns. Further, after analysing her mental health concern, she
was provided with cognitive behavioural therapy under the recovery oriented approach so
that her health condition could be improved.

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References
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A
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Reme, S. E., Grasdal, A. L., Løvvik, C., Lie, S. A., & Øverland, S. (2015). Work-focused
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