Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Introduction

Autism or autism spectrum disease is a set of conditions that are characterized by challenges with speech and nonverbal communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. Autism is significantly associated with birth complications such as birth asphyxia and preterm labor. Epidemiologic studies show that 1 in every 55 children has autism in the United States. Several factors are associated with the development of the Autism spectrum diseases, however, there is a close association between poor birth outcome and this condition.Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.ORDER  HERE A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

Case Study Overview

This case involves an 8-year-old Caucasian female named Katie who was referred by her PCP for a psychiatric evaluation that would help to establish an autism diagnosis. The psychiatric assessment and evaluation prompted a diagnosis of autism with a predominantly inattentive presentation. Therefore, this paper discusses the psychopharmacological three-point decisions of managing Katie. It will also discuss the expected outcomes and actual outcomes of management at every decision point and the ethical considerations that may influence the treatment plan and communication with the client and family.Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Decision #1

Decision selected

A differential diagnosis was made from the case study

Reason for Selecting This Decision

From the analysis of presenting symptoms, Katie is likely to be suffering from autism spectrum disease. According to Lord et al, (2020), autism or autism spectrum disease is a set of conditions that are characterized by challenges with speech and nonverbal communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Subjective and objective data from the case indicate that Katie is suffering from Autism spectrum diseases. From the subjective data, Katie has poor attention in class to challenging subjects but loves art and recess, her mind often wanders when others are attentive in class. According to her teacher, she inattentive, easily distracted, makes careless mistakes in her schoolwork, forgets things she already learned, is poor in spelling, reading, and arithmetic. Her attention span is short, pays attention to things that only interest her, and has poor interaction with the rest of the class members. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.Additionally, the perinatal history indicates that she is the first-born of elderly parents who had a low Apgar score at the fifth minute of life. The objective data shows a child who interrupts the interview and her parents are extra anxious during the session. Campisi et al, (2018), evaluation of these signs meet the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disease under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5). Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Expected outcome

The expected outcome is developing an effective plan for the management of this condition. This plan will enable Katie to improve her attention, increase social interactions, develop good memory, and improve academic performance, and her quality of life in general. According to Lord et al, (2020), treatment of autism involves symptomatic management to enhance stability. Therefore, behavioral therapies, family therapies are necessary to provide integration to real life. Pharmacologic therapy may be necessary to facilitate calmness and due to neurotransmitter imbalance that disrupts normal behaviors. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Difference between Expected Outcome and Actual Outcome

Katie is diagnosed with autism and a treatment plan is determined. This plan involves psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. There is a significant response to this plan and Katie has started to improve immensely compared to the previous visit. The parents report reduced irritability and her attention has improved. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Decision # 2

Decision Selected

The use of Behavior and Communication Approaches

Reason for Selecting This Decision

Campisi et al, (2018), the treatment of autism do not have a specific plan, however, studies have shown that various interventions can be significant in the treatment of this disorder. For instance, Behavior and Communication Approac Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.hes have helped reduce the symptoms. Autistic children have varying needs and a care provider needs to ensure they utilize the effective approaches to each child. The behavior and communications approach is wide and is divided into various approaches that address a particular behavior. For instance, Katie has poor interaction with other students, poorly attentive, poorly interacts with other students, and makes careless mistakes in her school work. The most effective approaches include speech therapy and socials skills training. Speech therapy and social skills training enhances good communication skills and abilities to freely interact with other people. Therefore adopting this therapy will help Katie improve her interaction with other students. Social skills training focuses on conversations and essential problem skills. Children will autism can be violent when provoked and can harm other children, however, do not present with this sign (Tarazi et al, 2018). Another intervention that may seem significant include, dietary approach because some studies show that the consumption of certain food aggravates the uncommon behaviors in autistic children. Therefore avoiding such food substances reduces the severity of the condition.Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Expected Outcome

Generally, the expected outcomes of these interventions are to limit the symptoms of the condition and improve the quality of life of the child. Other expected outcomes are improved cognitive ability, social interactions, and self-care (Tarazi et al, 2018). These interventions often require time for the child to gradually learn and retain due to their reduced cognitive abilities. Therefore, it expected that Katie will have coherent speech, develop good communications skills, learn to carefully integrate her own mistakes, and more improvement in her academic performance Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Difference between Expected Outcome and Actual Outcome

           Katie reported to the clinic with improved interaction with good communication skills. She can answer and ask questions appropriately. She has stopped doing careless mistakes thus has improved in her academic performance. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Decision #3

Decision Selected

The use of risperidone 0.5mg P.O daily

Reason for Selecting This Decision

According to Tarazi et al, (2018), the use of risperidone 0.5mg P.O daily is significantly reducing irritability in an autistic child. Risperidone is a second-generation antipsychotic that binds to dopamine receptors in the brain and antagonizes the effect of excess dopamine in the cells. It also binds to serotonin but a lower for the neurotransmitter. Several studies have proved that the drugs improve the interruptive behavior, inappropriate speech, and social interaction problems in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Expected outcome 

It was expected that Katie would improve further in terms of her academic performance, attention span, and ability to concentrate. Her interest in schoolwork and her ability to remember will improve markedly. Additionally, her interaction with the rest of her classmates will improve.Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.

Difference between Expected Outcome and Actual Outcome

Katie came to the clinic in the fourth week and showed enormous improvement in her behavior and learning abilities. Her memory had improved and was slowly integrating with the rest of the class members. Therefore, her condition had significantly improved from the previous time.

How Ethical Considerations Might Impact Treatment Plan and Communication with Families and the Client

Lord et al, (2020), the decision to administer these drugs will involve Katie’s parents because they are the primary caregivers and Katie has not reached legal age. Therefore, the consent to prescribe and administer risperidone will require consultations with the parents prior. Ethically patients have the authority to accept or reject a treatment plan, however, Katie does not have the legal capacity to make a decision. As such, the parents will take this role. Assessing and Treating Clients With Autism.