Addiction is a chronic situation that is hard to identify and treat; while the symptoms appear clearly, diagnosis depends entirely on the individual with an addiction issue. Majority of individuals suffering from addiction associate with drug abuse disorders, which negatively influence their lives and choices. According to (Godleski et al., 2019), substance use ailment is a multifaceted situation where an individual has an uncontrolled utilization of drugs despite their dangerous consequences. Individuals with drug abuse issues have an intense concentration on drugs, excess pain medicines, or any other harmful drugs leading to interference in the person’s daily activities. Hence, the need for intervention in treatment and counseling in case the addicted individual admits to it so that they receive the necessary help.
Overview
I decided to focus on Martha’s case study for seven weeks to help examine her situation closely. Martha is a 72-year-old woman of African American origin who lately is widowed as she lost her husband to a severe heart attack. Martha’s marriage lasted for forty-five years with three kids and six grandchildren who stayed in different nations. After asking for several pain medication refills within a short time, Martha was referred to me by her primary doctor. She also tried to convince the doctor’s assistant to prescribe her more prescriptions after receiving the previous ones from the doctor. After analyzing Martha’s condition, it remains clear that she has been in pain for the longest time. Her pain comes from various causes; a hip injury that occurred in a car accident, migraines, and a thyroid condition. Although Martha disclosed taking more than the recommended medication, she rapidly shifted the conversation.
In the past, Martha also had been on pain drugs for a long time since her surgeries failed to help minimize the hip pain. Ever since, Martha has always been in pain, which causes her to look for more medication to ease her pain. Martha displays numerous signs of sadness, defensiveness, and agitation when talking. Martha’s condition requires Percocet medication to help her n recovering, but she ends up taking more than the required amount. Even after talking to Martha about her health concerns and her misusing the given drugs, Martha responded negatively, suggesting that she does not care about the danger of the drugs because nobody will miss her when she dies. In Martha’s case, she has been lonely most of the time since her husband’s death, and she misses his company around. Although her children would like to visit them frequently, Martha remains unmotivated to see them, causing her to stay alone mostly.
Initial Questions
The first appropriate question to ask Martha is, “When did you start to seek more medication than the prescribed dosage?” This question is an excellent opportunity for the counselor to examine Martha’s source of addiction to the pain medicines and what drove her into them whenever she faced any issue ahead. Moreover, the question establishes Martha’s dependency and possible ways to deal with the addiction. The question helps formulate Martha’s triggers that cause her to use the Percocet. According to Randall et al. (2018), most addicts have triggers that stimulate them to abuse drugs; hence, identifying the trigger helps them relapse.
The second essential question is, “How do you feel when you use Percocet, and what motivates you to continue using them? The question allows us to look deeper into Martha’s image and the sensation she likes, which she only feels that Percocet medicine can provide. Looking at Martha, one can quickly notice her need for love, affection, acceptance, and family around her. However, asking to determine the facts is essential since most inexperienced counselors would assume that treating an addict is a natural process from what they only see (Randall et al., 2018). Martha says that she feels like nobody cares about her and that nobody will miss her when she dies.
The third appropriate question is, “How long have you been using Percocet, and how do you feel about yourself? The question is significant because talking about one’s addiction journey and how they honestly think of themselves is difficult to steer when all they have experienced in life is neglect. Heartbreaks, disappointments, and rejection from loved ones threaten individuals’ self-worth, causing them to look for other alternatives to reinforce their worth (Godleski et al., 2019). It is essential to analyze Martha’s relationship with her family and the effect of her husband’s loss in her life.
The final question is, “What would you like to change in your life patterns after this therapy?” The question offers Martha an opportunity of choice and a sensation of optimism that she can change her life for the better. Juhnke (2017) stated that transformation operates as the injunction in any therapy session; counselors work with clients to help transform their attitudes for a better cause. My responsibility as a counselor is to ensure that I identify Martha’s intentions and her dedication to therapy to help her formulate specific objectives for her life improvement.
Assessments
The first assessment instrument to use is an interview, which requires more sensitivity from my end and ample time to help analyze Martha. An assessment interview starts our therapeutic association that will help set the foundation for our treatment. I will understand Martha’s history and background contributing to her addiction through this. Schneider et al. (2021) stated that a regulated biophysical history interview is obtained using the Psychosocial History (PSH) assessment tool. Martha said that she feels neglected, lonely, and abandoned by her family, understanding that part of her life is essential for her treatment. The device will help incorporate Martha’s modification that examines her history and the necessity for using excess Percocetd while in treatment. According to Schneider et al. (2021), the PSH tool helps establish one’s family associations, relationships, love entanglements, and children’s responsibilities, which is essential for assisting clients with their issues.
The second assessment instrument is the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), an essential tool in a clinical setting. The device is administered in a conducted interview that helps to collect a client’s data from different categories (Ljungvall et al., 2020). The instrument addresses seven main issues in a client’s addiction; drug abuse, legal rank, family rank, medical status, job status, support, and psychiatric condition rather than concentrating on one issue alone. The ASI will effectively help me examine Martha’s problems, the triggers, and the best treatment option Martha requires moving forward. Martha has many issues surrounding her that need a comprehensive picture of her struggle with pain management. The ASI will assist in coming up with an effective plan, but it will also help formulate the best treatment option.
Preliminary Diagnosis
The preliminary diagnosis for Martha would be extreme substance use disorder and depression. Given her long history of pain medications and her husband’s loss, Martha resolves to this to help ease her pain whenever she feels any pain in her hip. Martha’s depression plays a huge factor in her prescription usage because her husband’s loss has created a massive turn in her life. Moreover, her children and grandchildren live in different cities; hence, denying her the love and association with family around her would ease her situation. My primary diagnosis for Martha would be the 304.10 moderate Percocet utilization condition. I selected moderate because Martha’s actions need several prescriptions to help her.
The reoccurring illness here is depression, which happens as a side effect of Martha’s medication. Although grieving alone does not qualify to identify someone with a depressive condition, additional issues must be considered, like how long someone remains lonely and unmotivated and mental illness history. Crunelle et al. (2018) stated that stress about withdrawal or any unmanaged pain could cause one to look for more drugs to help calm them, resulting in unusual attitudes during treatment. A thorough history of Martha’s mental health and the family association will provide a more precise diagnosis of her substance misuse and depression.
Conclusion
Martha requires special aid to assist her in returning to her everyday life and family. Her treatment plan should come with a primary caregiver with the participation of a pain professional. Martha has suffered a lot from her injured hip and her husband’s loss, which may take longer for her to recover, as she was accustomed to the pain and drugs as her survival means. Outmost patience and a judgment-free zone are necessary for her recovery, and she is hoping that everything will return to normal.
References
Crunelle, C. L., van den Brink, W., Moggi, F., Konstenius, M., Franck, J., Levin, F. R., … & Matthys, F. (2018). International consensus statement on screening, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorder patients with comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. European addiction research, 24(1), 43-51. https://doi.org/10.1159/000487767
Godleski, S. A., Eiden, R. D., Kachadourian, L., & Lucke, J. F. (2019). Etiological pathways to rejection sensitivity in a high-risk sample. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(5), 715-727. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218795486
Juhnke, G. A. (2017). Substance abuse assessment and diagnosis: A comprehensive guide for counselors and helping professionals. Psychology Press.
Ljungvall, H., Persson, A., Åsenlöf, P., Heilig, M., & Ekselius, L. (2020). Reliability of the Addiction Severity Index self-report form (ASI-SR): a self-administered questionnaire based on the Addiction Severity Index composite score domains. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 74(1), 9-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2019.1666300
Randall, J., Cunningham, P. B., & Henggeler, S. W. (2018). The development and transportability of multisystemic therapy-substance abuse: A treatment for adolescents with substance use disorders. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 27(2), 59-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/1067828X.2017.1411301
Schneider, L. H., Pawluk, E. J., Milosevic, I., Shnaider, P., Rowa, K., Antony, M. M., … & McCabe, R. E. (2021). The diagnostic assessment research tool in action: A preliminary evaluation of a semistructured diagnostic interview for DSM-5 disorders. Psychological Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001059
Diathesis Stress Model Of Psychopathology Essay Example For College
The diathesis-stress model is a theory that tries to explain the development of mental and physical disorders that are caused by an interaction between biological genetics and stress (Nielsen et al., 2020). Psychopathology is a scientific name that refers to the study of mental disorders that affect the normal functioning of individuals. The latter focuses on the hereditary genes and environmental factors that influence psychological and mental disorders. Psychopathology aims at discovering the possible cure and treatments for mental illness. The term may also be used as a synonym for mental illness other than the study of social and mental disorders. Psychopathology may mean different depending on the type and style of therapy; for example, according to a behaviorist, the term originates from maladaptive.
The model of abnormality explains how biological and environmental factors react to human minds to cause mental disorders. According to the model, certain genetic predispositions are passed directly from the parents to the children during birth. Not all children will suffer from the illness; the ones predisposed will; however, the ones not predisposed won’t. Some will have a healthy life, but within the line of life, they will face situations that may stress them increasing the likelihood of developing mental disorders. If the stress persists, the biological and environmental factors may combine, making the individual vulnerable and developing the disorder. According to the model, psychological disorders are genetically hereditary. The author argues that stress is caused by imbalances of chemicals in an individual’s mind.
Stress may be defined as a series of life events that affect individuals’ physical or psychological functioning (Pruessner et al., 2017). Stress may stimulate the development of mental disorders if they combine with genetic diathesis. The diathesis-stress model explains how genetic traits combine with environmental stressors to cause mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. This model argues that if the reaction of stress and predisposition exceeds, the individual will automatically develop a disorder. The diathesis model is mostly used in psychology to explain the existence of psychopathology (Kendler, 2020). It explains and brings into understanding the concept of nature and nurture in the susceptibleness of psychopathology for an individual’s entire life. The model also differentiates between those who are likely to develop the disorder and those who will not suffer. For example, it explains why a certain individual may suffer depression while another person may not suffer even when exposed to the same stressors as the other one.
The diathesis-stress model has been used to explain why some groups are more vulnerable than others. For example, people from a family known for depression are likely to suffer depression if exposed to stressors such as rejection. People from a family known for no depression may not suffer depression even if they face rejection. The amount of stress required to facilitate the development of a disorder depends on the individual’s vulnerability; the more the vulnerability, the lesser stress required to develop a disorder. Several diatheses contribute to the development of a mental disorder. These factors include genes, trauma, situational, and cognitive. Genetics is the predisposition inherited from the parent to the offspring. Trauma is the things within our surroundings that may cause stress, including noise, weather changes, and crowding. Situational factors are the challenges individuals face, such as living with sick parents or living in a low-income family.
Cognitive factors are the possible characteristics of an individual that affect or change their performance and learning in general. These factors may include memory, reasoning, and attention. There are seven common types of psychopathology disorders which include depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety, personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress (Broerman, 2020). Symptoms of each mental disorder vary according to the disorder; for example, symptoms of depression are different from anxiety symptoms. Symptoms of depression include changes in weight, carelessness, confusion, fatigue, excessive sleeping and forgetfulness, change in speaking tone, restlessness, and suicidal thoughts. Anxiety disorder symptoms are tiredness, worry and fear, stomach aches, sweating, headache, high heartbeat, dizziness, and fear of embarrassment.
In explaining diathesis-stress through depression disorder, the theory indicates that the magnitude of stress on depression depends on how an individual is vulnerable. The model uses a polygenic risk score to identify the vulnerability to depression of certain individuals from a given family sample. The diathesis-stress theory on depression was discovered early in the 1960s to explain how schizophrenia came into existence. Finally, in the 1980s, it was adapted to explain the origin of depression. This model states that stress may stimulate vulnerability causing a predisposition to developing into psychopathology. The author argues that stress and diathesis are dependent on each other in the generation of depression (Arnau-Soler et al., 2019). In the early 1970s, David Rosenthal defined diathesis-stress theory as” the one in which genuine meaning attaches to the commonly repeated statement that heredity and environment interact.” He later criticized the formulation of genetic and environmental stressors supported by the theory.
Other scientists like Monroe later highlighted Rosenthal’s criticisms and did more research on the diathesis-stress premise. He described how certain elements interact in the process of etiology over a specified period. Some scientists have criticized the research and theory of diathesis stress for being empirically or theoretically unproductive. According to the diathesis model, people differ in the levels of vulnerability to depression. Some people pose more factors than others. The more vulnerable an individual is, the more the chances of developing depression. The model argues that high sensitivity to depression may not cause a disorder, but the stressful life of an individual catalyzes it. These stress events may be biological, social, or psychologically driven. In people with low sensitivity to depression, it may need high levels of stress for the condition to take place. Without this amount of stress, these individuals will have a normal life, and their vulnerability is considered hidden.
According to the diathesis-stress theory of depression, stressful events impact people differently. Deaths, drug abuse, divorce, or poverty may cause depression depending on how much such individuals are sensitive to the situation. Each event impacts people differently; for example, divorce may trigger depression in a certain individual but may not affect another person experiencing the same divorce. Since depression is mainly caused by social, genetic, and psychological factors, the model argues that it must interact with the individuals’ unique sensitivity for the condition to occur (Colodro-Conde et al., 2018). Depression is a complex disorder that needs a holistic approach to treatment. Since a series of factors causes the condition, the model states that no one treatment can fix it. It is unreasonable to expect the treatment that heels one person to work for another.
References
Arnau-Soler, A., Adams, M. J., Clarke, T. K., MacIntyre, D. J., Milburn, K., Navrady, L., … & Thomson, P. A. (2019). Validation of the diathesis-stress model for depression in Generation Scotland. Translational Psychiatry, 9(1), 1-10.
Broerman, R. (2020). Diathesis-stress model. Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, 1107-1109.
Colodro-Conde, L., County-Duchesne, B., Zhu, G., Coventry, W. L., Byrne, E. M., Gordon, S., … & Martin, N. G. (2018). A direct test of the diathesis-stress model for depression. Molecular psychiatry, 23(7), 1590-1596.
Kendler, K. S. (2020). Prehistory of the diathesis-stress model: predisposing and exciting causes of insanity in the 19th century. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(7), 576-588.
Nielsen, J. D., Mennies, R. J., & Olino, T. M. (2020). Application of a diathesis-stress model to the interplay of cortical structural development and emerging depression in youth. Clinical psychology review, 82, 101922.
Pruessner, M., Cullen, A. E., Aas, M., & Walker, E. F. (2017). The neural diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia revisited: An update on recent findings considering illness stage and neurobiological and methodological complexities. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 73, 191-218.
Digital Transformation Drivers Essay Example For College
Digital transformation is the process of enhancing or renovating current processes via the use of digital tools and technology. This process entails enhancing or even wholly replacing antiquated, sluggish, arduous, and often manual procedures with more straightforward, efficient, and frequently automated ones. Digital transformation is critical in reacting to the disruption of work and business environments, where most organizations increase their efforts in response to the abrupt shift. According to Van Veldhoven & Vanthienen (2021), eight in ten organizations accelerated their digital transformation programs in 2020. Additionally, many businesses ascertained that the epidemic demonstrated the need for a more agile and scalable technology environment. It is clear that technology is not an option in the contemporary era but a fundamental business strategy that must permeate every aspect of an organization. This discussion covers various reasons why digital transformation is necessary within an organization.
According to Abolhassan (2016), everyone nowadays expects on-demand services. In other words, today’s customer, whether internal or external, expects the same degree of technological capabilities in the workplace as they do in their personal lives. In this case, enterprises are quickly increasing their need for more flexible hybrid information technology services and agile networking capabilities to fulfil customer expectations, and providing an outstanding user experience is critical to business transformation. This includes familiarity with information technology personnel and systems and the usability of programs for employees or external customers.
Increased staff efficiency is another aspect contributing to the demand for digital transformation. Engagement is a significant topic, especially when dealing with a dispersed workforce that is barely together in a particular place. Employers are continually on the lookout for innovative ways to increase productivity, and digital technology plays a crucial role in supporting people in becoming more productive in their primary responsibilities both in and out of the office. Digital transformation helps essential business functions such as human resources to move away from manual processes and automate crucial chores such as payroll, allowing them to focus on more strategic organizational prospects (Yildiz, 2021). In addition, the importance of digital transformation in promoting creativity via remote work and on-demand access to technology and services is critical for developing an environment favorable to employee success.
Strengthening competitive edge and business relations is another factor contributing to the need for digital transformation (Abolhassan, 2016). Customer demands are growing, and industry rivalry is intense. Businesses are becoming more interdependent, cooperating with subcontractors, suppliers and distributors, and specialist consultants to supply diverse products and services to customers. Managing these partners often requires document-based communication, which was previously seen as a time-consuming hindrance to productivity. However, digital transformation has the potential to reimage this process and contribute to the creation of a more transparent, rapid, and accurate procedure, allowing employees to be more successful and productive on a daily basis. By building a digital process and connecting it with the rest of the organization, businesses stay ahead of the curve and expand their reach to prospective partners. Internal procedures may be made more efficient and adaptable as the firm grows. With time, digital transformation develops the tools necessary to increase productivity and resource efficiency while improving business collaborations.
Conclusively, from the above discussion, it can be agreed that the motivation for digital transformation for most businesses is financial. Digital transformation saves money on hardware and software while allowing team members to focus on other projects. It also creates a consumer-grade experience, superior performance, and enterprise-grade security, all of which increase revenues and profitability in an organization.
References
Abolhassan, F. (2016). The drivers of digital transformation: Why there’s no way around the cloud. Springer.
Van Veldhoven, Z., & Vanthienen, J. (2021). Digital transformation as an interaction-driven perspective between business, society, and technology. Electronic Markets. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-021-00464-5
Yildiz, O. (2021). Digital transformation and internationalization strategies in organizations. IGI Global.