Medication in mental heath: a case study

Abstract

In Scotland, between 25 and 30% of all GP consultations involve depression, stress or anxiety. The incidence of depression is high and rising, with mental health problems in old age being very common. Depression can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care, and a range of treatments are available; however, the effectiveness of all treatments is limited by non-concordance with the treatment plan. There are many reasons why medicines may not be taken as prescribed, including adverse effects, poor communication between health professional and patient, the effects of the illness, including cognitive impairment and patients' disagreement with the need for treatment. A case study on a patient with depression is presented, using the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) format. The case study demonstrates a critical understanding of how issues of role, concordance and psychopharmacology impacted on the recovery of the patient.