Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.

According to the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention, approximately 1% of children globally suffer from autism (McPartland, Law & Dawson, 2015 p.124). In the United States only, an estimated figure is given of 1 out of almost 70 births in the country. It is marked as the fastest growing developmental disease increasing at a rate of 119% from 2000 to the year 2014 (McPartland, Law & Dawson, 2015 p.124). Autism related services cost the United States up to approximately 260 billion US dollars annually, at the price of about 2 million US dollars per person (McPartland, Law & Dawson, 2015). The prevalence of autism and its inability to be curbed is attributed to the fact that autism is not preventable or curable. This paper explores several aspects of the disease including its management.

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Developmental disorders

These are a group of psychological conditions that manifest people from childhood, causing impairment in selective parts of the body. The ICD-10 commonly refers to them as Specific Disorders of Psychological Development (Lord et.al, 2012 p.306). These disorders include language, learning, speech, motor, neurodevelopment, and autism. Others that can loosely be classified as developmental impairments include schizophrenia and antisocial behavior (Lord et.al, 2012 p.307). These conditions are present from childhood and depending on the stage of diagnosis, and they improve as the toddler develops. Most of them are diagnosed under the age of 9 when those surrounding a child notice defects or certain inabilities in comparison to children of the same age. Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.

There is no specific cause of these disorders, apart from existing theories that are used to draw scientific hypotheses. The most significant characteristics in play involve genetic composition and environmental factors that disrupt the normal human development process and create abnormalities. According to research on of the theory states that stress or trauma during the early childhood period can cause developmental disorders.
What causes the autism spectrum disorders

The disease was first described in the mid-20th century by a psychiatrist known as Leo Kanner (McPartland & Dawson, 2015 p.127). He stated that autism was an inborn defect without a definite causative factor, and detected in children from as early as a few weeks after birth to three years of age. Recent research attributes the disease to biology, naming hereditary factors and the pre and peri-natal environments as the greatest influencing factors.

Autism spectrum refers to a variety of conditions that are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). These diseases include Asperger Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, autism, and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified, abbreviated as PDD-NOS (Lord et.al, 2012 p.308).
Classification of ASD

Previous diagnosis manuals classified Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism as different sub-categories of disorders. However, the latest DSM-V manual includes both as a range of a larger disease depending on its severity (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). People with both syndromes are categorized under the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Secondly, the DSM-5 handbook does not emphasize on the aspect of language delay or the exact age when the disease manifests itself (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). Instead, it is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition whose symptoms occur in the early childhood stage with possible diagnosis at a later date. The DSM- 5 also changed the impairment areas from three to two namely social communication and behavior (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). Finally, the clinical presentation of the disease currently uses clinical specifiers to describe ASD (Lord et.al, 2012 p.309).

According to scientific study, there are three types of genetic associations of ASD. The first is the familial aggregation of autism common in the siblings of affected ones, and the second category is the genetic combination of other conditions present in the family members of the afflicted children (Lord et.al, 2013 p.4). The third kind of genetic association involves the connection with specific conditions of recognized genetic composition (Yuen et.al, 2015 p.187). Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.

How is autism diagnosed

Doctors and physicians diagnose the disease by determining a child’s behavior and growth, and the symptoms are more noticeable from age two (Volkmar, 2014 p.7). For those whose diagnosis is missed by that age, the disease becomes noticeable when parents or educators detect anomalies based on how the children play, socialize, and communicate. Diagnosing adults with ASD is difficult because some of the symptoms usually overlap with those of mental disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia (Volkmar, 2014 p.9). Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

Diagnosis in children occurs in two stages namely:

a) General developmental screening

This process occurs during the well-child check-ups stage in growth. Parents are encouraged to visit pediatricians or early childhood health care physicians for checkups. The CDC recommends parents to take their children when they turn 1 or 2 years and maintain regular visits (Schaefer &Mendelsohn, 2013 p.404). Children at high risk are those who portray ASD tendencies, were born premature, and belong to a family of someone affected with ASD (Schaefer &Mendelsohn, 2013 p.404). Guardians are also urged to take their children for screening at an earlier stage if any of the risk factors are mentioned. The toddlers who display growth problems at this stage are referred to the next screening phase. Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

b) Additional evaluation

In this step, doctors, developmental healthcare physicians, and other health specialties experienced in ADS take part in observing the children. They include a developmental pediatrician, child psychiatrist, psychologist, and a speech pathologist (Schaefer &Mendelsohn, 2013 p.407). The developmental pediatrician has extensive knowledge on child growth, while the psychologist and psychiatrist deal with the brain development aspect. A speech or language pathologist specializes in detecting communication difficulties. The evaluation includes determining the cognitive abilities, language proficiency, and age-appropriate skills for normal daily functioning. In other cases, additional blood and auditory tests will be conducted because ASD has the chance of occurring alongside other learning disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

In older children, the disease is diagnosed mostly after they start school. In this setting, the evaluation is conducted by specialists in special education, who refer the children to healthcare professionals. The most prevalent symptom at this stage is socializing and communication difficulties such as body language, facial expressions, and determining the tone of voice (Schaefer &Mendelsohn, 2013). They may also display a difficulty in understanding humor, sarcasm, and figures of speech, and have trouble forming friendships or bonding with their peers Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.

In the case of adults, most of them make a personal assessment and visit the appropriate physician for diagnosis or referral for an ADS test. They are evaluated on their social interactions, expression challenges, restricted interests, sensory issues, and repetitive tendencies (Schaefer &Mendelsohn, 2013 p.400). The specialists also assess their growth and development history for accurate diagnosis. In most cases, the physicians also interview close family members or associates. Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

After the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) published data about the increase in ASD rate in the country; it was essential for the state to determine the reason for this increase (Blumberg et.al, 2013 p.1). A case study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ASD among school going children aged between 6 and 17 in the United States using data collected from the three bodies (Blumberg et.al, 2013 p.1). The results indicated that the primary reason for the increase in ASD cases was due to late diagnosis of children whose condition was previously not recognized (Blumberg et.al, p.1).

 

Week 8 Mood Disorders Essay Assignment Paper

Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia

“I can’t believe he is speaking to me! I have always liked his music, but now here he is on TV speaking directly to me! When I started following him on social media, he must have seen my profile. I know he loves me. He cannot love that model I saw with him in the picture. She must be the person following me to school. I have not seen her, but I know she is there. She does not want me being with him, but I will be with him. He loves me as much as I love him.”

Kaitlyn, age 17

Early-onset schizophrenia is a rare and severe mental illness in which children interpret reality abnormally. There are a range of problems with cognitive functioning, behavior, and emotions. Perceptions may be distorted and children or their parents may report that they have difficulty distinguishing reality. This is a diagnosis that is difficult to confirm in the early stages.

This week, you compare evidence-based treatment plans for adults versus children diagnosed with schizophrenia. You analyze the legal and ethical issues involved with forcing patients with early-onset schizophrenia to take medications for the disorder. You also complete a Decision Tree concerning children with psychotic disorders. Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers

 

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materialssection of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

• Chapter 31, “Child Psychiatry” (pp. 1268–1283)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders”

Note: You will access this book from the Walden Library databases.

McClellan, J., & Stock, S. (2013). Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(9), 976–990. Retrieved from http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(13)00112-3/pdf

Giles, L. L., & Martini, D. R. (2016). Challenges and promises of pediatric psychopharmacology. Academic Pediatrics, 16(6), 508–518. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2016.03.011

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Hargrave, T. M., & Arthur, M. E. (2015). Teaching child psychiatric assessment skills: Using pediatric mental health screening tools. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 50(1), 60–72. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/docview/1702699596?accountid=14872 Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Stahl, S. M. (2014). Prescriber’s Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

 

Note: All Stahl resources can be accessed through the Walden Library using the link. This link will take you to a login page for the Walden Library. Once you log in to the library, the Stahl website will appear.

Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia

To access information on the following medications, click on The Prescriber’s Guide, 5th Ed. tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate medication.

Review the following medications: Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia

Schizoaffective disorder

Schizophrenia

amisulpride aripiprazole asenapine carbamazepine (adjunct) chlorpromazine clozapine cyamemazine flupenthixol haloperidol iloperidone lamotrigine (adjunct) l-methylfolate (adjunct) loxapine lurasidone mesoridazine molindone olanzapine paliperidone perospirone perphenazine pipothiazine quetiapine risperidone sertindole sulpiride thioridazine thiothixene trifluoperazine valproate (divalproex) (adjunct) ziprasidone zotepine zuclopenthixol

amisulpride aripiprazole asenapine carbamazepine (adjunct) chlorpromazine clozapine cyamemazine flupenthixol haloperidol iloperidone lamotrigine (adjunct) l-methylfolate (adjunct) loxapine lurasidone mesoridazine molindone olanzapine paliperidone perospirone perphenazine pipothiazine quetiapine risperidone sertindole sulpiride thioridazine thiothixene trifluoperazine valproate (divalproex) (adjunct) ziprasidone zotepine zuclopenthixol

Note: Many of these medications are FDA approved for adults only. Some are FDA approved for disorders in children and adolescents. Many are used “off label” for the disorders examined in this week. As you read the Stahl drug monographs, focus your attention on FDA approvals for children/adolescents (including “ages” for which the medication is approved, if applicable) and further note which drugs are “off label.” Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2017b). A young girl with strange behaviors [Multimedia file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Optional Resources

Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (2015). Rutter’s child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell. Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers

• Chapter 57, “Schizophrenia and Psychosis” (pp. 774–794)

Assignment 1: Early Onset Schizophrenia

Children and adolescents with schizophrenia have more difficulty functioning in academic or work settings, and significant impairment usually persists into adulthood. They may have speech or language disorders and in some cases borderline intellectual functioning. These individuals are more likely to complete suicide attempts or die from other accidental causes. Schizophrenia is characterized by positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and behavior disturbance. Negative symptoms include blunted affect and attention, apathy, and lack of motivation and social interest.

In this Assignment, you compare treatment plans for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia with treatment plans for children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia. You also consider the legal and ethical issues involved in medicating children diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Compare evidence-based treatment plans for adults versus children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia
• Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers Analyze legal and ethical issues surrounding the forceful administration of medication to children diagnosed with schizophrenia
• Analyze the role of the PMHNP in addressing issues related to the forceful administration of medication to children diagnosed with schizophrenia

To Prepare for this Assignment:

• Review the Learning Resources concerning early-onset schizophrenia.

The Assignment (2 pages):

• Compare at least two evidence-based treatment plans for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia with evidence-based treatment plans for children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia.
• Explain the legal and ethical issues involved with forcing children diagnosed with schizophrenia to take medication for the disorder and how a PMHNP may address those issues.

Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK9Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 9 Assignment 1 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 9 Assignment 1 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computerbutton. Find the document you saved as “WK9Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database. Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 9 Assignment 1 Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 9 Assignment 1 draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia

To submit your Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers :

Week 9 Assignment 1

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Assignment 2: Practicum: Decision Tree

Childhood psychosis is extremely rare; however, children that present with psychosis must be carefully assessed and evaluated with appropriate interviewing of parent, child, and use of assessment tools.

For this Assignment, as you examine the client case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat clients presenting with early onset schizophrenia.

Learning Objectives Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia

Students will:

• Evaluate clients for treatment of mental health disorders
• Analyze decisions made throughout diagnosis and treatment of clients with mental health disorders

The Assignment:

Examine Case 3: You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the diagnosis and treatment for this client. Be sure to consider co-morbid physical as well as mental factors that might impact the client’s diagnosis and treatment.

At each Decision Point, stop to complete the following:

• Decision #1: Differential Diagnosis
  • Which Decision did you select?
  • Why did you select this Decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources. Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia
  • What were you hoping to achieve by making this Decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  • Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #1 and the results of the Decision. Why were they different?
• Decision #2: Treatment Plan for Psychotherapy
  • Why did you select this Decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  • What were you hoping to achieve by making this Decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  • Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #2 and the results of the Decision. Why were they different? Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.
• Decision #3: Treatment Plan for Psychopharmacology
  • Why did you select this Decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources. Week 9 Early-Onset Schizophrenia
  • What were you hoping to achieve by making this Decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  • Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #3 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
• Also include how ethical considerations might impact your treatment plan and communication with clients and their families.

Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of three academic resources. While you may use the course text to support your rationale, it will not count toward the resource requirement.

By Day 7 of Week 10

Submit your Assignment.

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Assignment 3: Board Vitals

This week you will be responding to twenty Board Vitals questions that cover a broad review of your Nurse Practitioner program courses up to this point.

These review questions will provide practice that is critical in your preparation for the national certification exam that’s required to certify you to practice as a nurse practitioner. These customized test questions are designed to help you prepare for your Nurse Practitioner certification exam. It is in your best interest to take your time, do your best, and answer each question to the best of your ability Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.

You can access Board Vitals through the link sent to you in email or by following the link below:

By Day 7

Complete the Board Vitals questions.

This week, you compared evidence-based treatment plans for adults with evidence-based treatment plans for children diagnosed with schizophrenia. You analyzed the legal and ethical issues involved with forcing patients with early-onset schizophrenia to take medications for the disorder. You also completed a Decision Tree concerning children with psychotic disorders. Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders & Early-Onset Schizophrenia Essay Assignment Sample Papers.