Mental Healthcare for Adolescents and Children- Ryans Case

Mental Healthcare for Adolescents and Children- Ryan Case

The behaviors apparent for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) include inability or trouble paying attention, being overly active, and trouble controlling impulses such as acting very quickly without thinking about the consequences of one’s actions (CDC, 2023). In this case scenario, it involves being restless as Ryan could not stay in one place for long, could not listen to adults, especially his parents, was very angry, and threw anger tantrums. Further, the behaviors apparent for Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) entail ongoing and frequent irritability and anger patterns, defying rules from parents or any adult, and arguing with adults (Harvey, Breaux, & Lugo-Candelas, 2016). In this case, Ryan is said to throw constant anger and irritable tantrums and seem unhappy, and this behavior is exhibited at school as it is at home.

If this behavior worsens and Ryan starts to violate the rights of others, a conduct disorder diagnosis will be given to him. This is because children with this disorder show excess disruptive behaviors, have trouble abiding by the rules, and show persistent and repetitive patterns of aggression, deceitfulness, and destruction (Eskander, 2020).

The medications appropriate for Ryan include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. This is because these are stimulants that address comorbid ADHD, which is what Ryan is experiencing. According to Suwanee (2019), these stimulants help enhance the aggression symptoms in coexisting ADHD. Moreover, they help improve the child’s attention, which could, in turn, enhance the child’s capacity to gain from psychosocial therapies. Non-stimulants such as clonidine and atomoxetine can also be used to help address outbursts and impulsivity (Suwanee, 2019).

Therapy for Ryan’s parents is important in this case first because, as a result of the child’s ADHD behavior, a parent can be less patient and focus on the disruptive behavior as well as act on impulse (Van der Oord, Bögels & Peijnenburg, 2012). According to Van der Oord, Bögels, & Peijnenburg (2012), this is known as parental overactivity, which is predictive of externalizing the child’s behavior. Second, Van der Oord, Bögels, & Peijnenburg (2012) argue that parents tend to respond automatically to their children’s disruptive behavior in accordance with their judgment of behavior and upbringing experiences. Moreover, the parent’s stress is enhanced when they have a child with ADHD, and under stress, the parent can be more reactive, controlling, and rejecting (Van der Oord, Bögels, & Peijnenburg, 2012). All these can have negative effects on both Ryan and the parent, and therefore, therapy is necessary for the parent.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- CDC (2023). Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

Eskander, N. (2020). The psychosocial outcome of conduct and oppositional defiant disorder in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Cureus, 12(8).

Van der Oord, S., Bögels, S. M., & Peijnenburg, D. (2012). The effectiveness of mindfulness training for children with ADHD and mindful parenting for their parents. Journal of child and family studies, 21, 139-147.

Harvey, E. A., Breaux, R. P., & Lugo-Candelas, C. I. (2016). Early development of comorbidity between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 125(2), 154.

Suwanee, G. (2019). An introduction to oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. US Pharm, 44(11), 29-32.

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Module 09 Discussion – Mental Healthcare for Adolescence & Children
Discussion Topic

Activity Time:
3 hours

Directions:
Scenario

Ryan is a 12-year-old diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). As a small child, Ryan was first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He had just started preschool and was unable to remain in one place for more than a minute or two. His parents had already had a very difficult time disciplining him because he would become very upset and throw temper tantrums when he could not do as he wished. He just seemed to be an unhappy, irritable child. This behavior continued in school. As time progressed, Ryan was diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder because he continued to refuse to listen to adults and comply with the rules.

Mental Healthcare for Adolescents and Children- Ryans Case

By the age of 12, he has begun to bully and annoy others. His parents have decided that the approaches they have used in the past are not working, and they are afraid his behavior will only get worse.

Initial Post
Provide explanations for these questions and statements:

Describe the behaviors apparent for each disorder in this scenario (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder).
If this behavior becomes worse and Ryan starts to violate the rights of others, what medical diagnosis will be given and why?
Discuss at least two types of medication appropriate to treat Ryan and support your choices with rationale and credible resources.
Describe why therapy for the parent is important in this scenario, including at least two supporting rationales.

Response Posts
Review the posts of two classmates.
In each post, identify new knowledge gained.
Describe how this new knowledge will impact your nursing practice, including specific examples and credible resources.

Please make your initial post by midweek and respond to at least two other students’ posts by the end of the week. Please check the Course Calendar for specific due dates.