Reference no: EM133954848

Case Study, Chapter 17, Mood Disorders and Suicide Julia, age 62 years, became severely depressed 6 years ago when her son experienced a
traumatic brain injury sustained in an automobile accident. The accident left him with considerable physical impairments, and he is now living in an assisted living facility. Julia often goes in to help him with his bathing and grooming, and tries to take him out for drives as often as possible. Julie has been nonadherent with pharmacologic antidepressant therapy, which has led to her admission to an acute care psychiatric setting. She was taking Elavil, but found the side effects uncomfortable so she cut back her dose a few months ago, and stopped taking it all together about six weeks ago.

During the assessment interview, Julia reports becoming increasingly forgetful and that she now has difficulty sleeping and concentrating. A physical assessment shows that she has lost 20 pounds during the last six months as a result of "not being interested in eating." Her home needs repairs, and she feels overwhelmed with completing the maintenance required while trying to spend time with her son. Julia reports "feeling helpless and alone," adding that she "is alone and no one cares." She has a family history of depression, and her older brother committed suicide many years ago after struggling with depression and addiction.

1. What side effects might Julia have experienced from this medication? What are three interventions she could follow to minimize these side effects?

2. Create a plan of care for Julia. Your plan of care should include your priority nursing diagnosis as well as one other nursing diagnosis, and goals and interventions specific to each one that should be immediately implemented by the nurse.