Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
Walden University Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents-Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
The introduction for the Walden University Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
How to Write the Body for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
After the introduction, move into the main part of the Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
Stuck? Let Us Help You
Completing assignments can sometimes be overwhelming, especially with the multitude of academic and personal responsibilities you may have. If you find yourself stuck or unsure at any point in the process, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional assistance. Our assignment writing services are designed to help you achieve your academic goals with ease.
Our team of experienced writers is well-versed in academic writing and familiar with the specific requirements of the Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents assignment. We can provide you with personalized support, ensuring your assignment is well-researched, properly formatted, and thoroughly edited. Get a feel of the quality we guarantee – ORDER NOW.
Sample Answer for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is a type of psychotic disorder that develops at 12 years or younger. It is mostly chronic and persistently incapacitating, with adverse outcomes than in individuals who develop the disorder later in life. Childhood-onset schizophrenia is diagnosed based on the presence of at least two of the following features: Hallucinations, Delusions, Disorganized speech, Disorganized or catatonic behavior, and Negative symptoms (Driver et al., 2020). The purpose of this paper is to discuss pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions used to treat childhood-onset schizophrenia and explore clinical practice guidelines for managing the disorder.
Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Intervention
Second-generation antipsychotics are the recommended first-line antipsychotic agents for treating schizophrenia in
adolescents. Aripiprazole is one of the FDA-approved second-generation antipsychotics for treating schizophrenia in adolescents (Coustals et al., 2021). It was approved by the FDA in 2007 to treat schizophrenia in children from 13 years. Clozapine is a second-generation antipsychotic used off-label to treat childhood-onset schizophrenia. Double-blind studies have found Clozapine to be effective in treating childhood-onset schizophrenia and superior to haloperidol (Rachamallu et al., 2019). Clozapine should only be initiated after the failure of other treatment trials using 2-3 antipsychotics from various classes.
Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) is my recommended non-pharmacological intervention for managing childhood-onset schizophrenia. Grover and Avasthi (2019) explain that CRT seeks to enhance cognitive processes, including memory, executive function, attention, and social cognition, through repeated practice of a range of cognitive tasks. CRT in adolescents with schizophrenia has been established to enhance their ability to plan and cognitive flexibility.
The Risk Assessment to Use to Inform Treatment Decision Making
The risk assessment that would guide the treatment decision-making involves evaluating a patient’s blood pressure, weight, glucose, and lipids levels. Second-generation antipsychotics are associated with weight gain and increased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Thus, I would evaluate if the benefit of the treatment intervention outweighs the risk. Aripiprazole is associated with severe adverse effects such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome, leukopenia, QT prolongation, and suicide attempts, which must be considered when prescribing (Coustals et al., 2021). Nonetheless, its benefits include efficacy as a maintenance antipsychotic therapy in adolescents since it delays time to exacerbations of psychotic symptoms. Clozapine is not approved for pediatric populations due to its major adverse effects. Rachamallu et al. (2019) explain that children and adolescents with psychotic pathology normally recover with Clozapine but achieve this with a potential risk of chronic and incapacitating side effects like metabolic syndrome and a greater side effect profile compared with the adult population.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
The current clinical practice guidelines for childhood-onset schizophrenia identify antipsychotic agents as the first-line treatment for schizophrenia in pediatric populations and must be used alongside psychosocial management. Among the different antipsychotics, the guidelines recommend second-generation antipsychotics, other than Clozapine, as first-line agents (Grover & Avasthi, 2019). The guidelines further recommend psychosocial interventions such as CRT, CBT, psychoeducation, and family intervention for childhood-onset schizophrenia.
Conclusion
Aripiprazole is my recommended FDA-approved antipsychotic agent for treating childhood-onset schizophrenia, while Clozapine is the recommended off-label drug. Besides, I would recommend cognitive remediation therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention. Both Aripiprazole and Clozapine have associated benefits and risks, which should be considered during the treatment decision-making.
References
Coustals, N., Ménard, M. L., & Cohen, D. (2021). Aripiprazole in children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 31(1), 4-32. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2020.0014
Driver, D. I., Thomas, S., Gogtay, N., & Rapoport, J. L. (2020). Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia and Early-onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: An Update. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 29(1), 71–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.08.017
Grover, S., & Avasthi, A. (2019). Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Schizophrenia in Children and Adolescents. Indian journal of psychiatry, 61(Suppl 2), 277–293. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_556_18
Rachamallu, V., Elberson, B. W., Vutam, E., & Aligeti, M. (2019). Off-Label Use of Clozapine in Children and Adolescents-A Literature Review. American journal of therapeutics, 26(3), e406–e416. https://doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000894
Sample Answer 2 for Assignment 1: Prescribing for Children and Adolescents
Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions among children and adolescents; however, it is frequently misdiagnosed and untreated due to symptom variations that deviate from the criteria established for adults. Depressive disorders are distinguished by symptoms such as extreme or persistent melancholy or irritability that significantly impairs daily functioning or induces substantial distress. The diagnostic process is based on clinical criteria. Antidepressants, cognitive-behavioral therapy with supportive measures, or a combination of these approaches are utilized in the treatment process (Hetrick et al., 2021). This paper presents three treatment modalities for major depressive disorders in children and adolescents: an FDA-approved medication, an off-label medication, and a nonpharmacological approach.
FDA-Approved Drug
The FDA has approved fluoxetine as the primary therapy for depression in young children. The medicine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with an increased risk of causing suicidal thoughts (Selph & McDonagh, 2019). Thus, careful monitoring is required. Frequent adverse effects associated with fluoxetine treatment encompass headaches, fatigue, and insomnia. When administered in moderate concentrations, the medication has demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating depressive symptoms in minors within a treatment duration of 6 to 8 weeks (Araz Altay et al., 2019). The American Psychological Association and American Academy of Pediatrics endorse the use of fluoxetine for treating pediatric depression due to its enhanced safety, tolerability, and lower likelihood of adverse effects.
Off-Label Drug
In minors, SSRIs like Sertraline are frequently administered off-label for the treatment of depression owing to their favorable safety profile. The medication has received approval from the FDA to treat OCD in minors aged six and older. The drug might cause confusion, hallucinations, and agitation when used in high doses (Potter et al., 2019). Compared to other psychotropic medicines, this medication has shown significant efficacy in lowering depressive symptoms in children when used in small doses and modified gradually based on treatment results (Cao et al., 2021). Most national clinical recommendations, such as those from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), recommend using a specific treatment for controlling depression in children owing to its proven efficacy, tolerability, and safety in this group.
Nonpharmacological Intervention
For the treatment of pediatric depression, non-pharmacological approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other forms of psychotherapy may be utilized. According to studies, moderate depression may be effectively cured through cognitive behavioral therapy without the need for medication. Severe childhood depression may be alleviated more quickly by combining medication with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Children may develop robust coping mechanisms that enhance their quality of life. Owing to its advantages, most clinical guidelines—including the NICE guideline—suggest psychotherapeutic intervention, most especially cognitive behavioral therapy, as the first line of treatment for depressed adolescents (Liu et al., 2021).
Conclusion
Despite the increasing use of antidepressants in children and adolescents, there remains a lack of evidence to support that their benefits outweigh the risks. The concern of treatment-emergent suicidality continues to be significant. There is an apparent demand for enhanced therapies, both in the pharmaceutical and psychological realms, due to the critical issues caused by excessive use and off-label prescription. This discussion is expected to stimulate new research and thoughtful conversation.
References
Araz Altay, M., Bozatlı, L., Demirci Şipka, B., & Görker, I. (2019). Current Pattern of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Psychotropic Drug Prescription in Child and Adolescent Patients. Medicina, 55(5), 159. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55050159
Cao, T. X. D., Fraga, L. F. C., Fergusson, E., Michaud, J., Dell’Aniello, S., Yin, H., Rej, S., Azoulay, L., & Renoux, C. (2021). Prescribing Trends of Antidepressants and Psychotropic Coprescription for Youths in UK Primary Care, 2000-2018. Journal of Affective Disorders, 287, 19–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.022
Hetrick, S. E., McKenzie, J. E., Bailey, A. P., Sharma, V., Moller, C. I., Badcock, P. B., Cox, G. R., Merry, S. N., & Meader, N. (2021). New generation antidepressants for depression in children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013674.pub2
Liu, W., Li, G., Wang, C., Wang, X., & Yang, L. (2021). Efficacy of Sertraline Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2021, 5309588. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5309588
Potter, L. A., Scholze, D. A., Biag, H. M. B., Schneider, A., Chen, Y., Nguyen, D. V., Rajaratnam, A., Rivera, S. M., Dwyer, P. S., Tassone, F., Al Olaby, R. R., Choudhary, N. S., Salcedo-Arellano, M. J., & Hagerman, R. J. (2019). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Sertraline in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, p. 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00810
Selph, S. S., & McDonagh, M. S. (2019). Depression in Children and Adolescents: Evaluation and Treatment. American Family Physician, 100(10), 609–617. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/1115/p609.html