Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Case Study

As Perkinson states in his book “Chemical Dependency Counseling”, depression is a full body illness. Depression changes the way the client thinks, their body and their mood. The way a client thinks about themselves, their choices in eating and sleeping, and how they think about other things. In many cases, drug abusers have other sets of problems that make them dual diagnoses that should be treated for both. Most clients are depressed when entering treatment for drugs and to help with their primary diagnoses, their secondary diagnoses must also be solved. Helping their depression can improve their chances in recovery for their primary diagnoses, without the help, the chances of relapse increase. Depression comes in different degrees of severity, …show more content…
The assessment must include an examination with special emphasis on recalled, recent and remote memory; a current and past psychiatric/psychological abnormality and neurological assessment if indicated by the assessment; if they are dangerous to self or others; and an evaluation of cognitive functioning including learning impairments that may influence treatment. This assessment will be a signal to staff about problem that may need more treatment. To test the severity of the depression there is the psychological instrument, a popular one is Hamilton Depression Rating. Hamilton depression rating is a simple 21 questionnaire in which the patient, who is already diagnosed as depressed. The scale is not designed to be self-administered as the difficulty of interpretation of some clinical terms. Once the questions are answered the number is added up and the higher the score the more severe the depression. With the Hamilton score, mental status and history of present and past history, the mental health professional can assess the …show more content…
This biological interpretation of treatment focuses on the chemical problems in the brain. The medication helps deregulate and balance the brain. Four different groups of antidepressant medication commonly used are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and lithium. When put on medication there is usually a three to six week delay before the client begins to feel improvement. Before the client takes any medication, the client must be informed of the process and side effects that the medications may have. Some side effects include lack of hunger, weight gain or sexual dysfunction. A few examples of medication for depression are antidepressants such as Cymbalta oral, Lexapro oral, Effexor XR oral or Celexa oral. Cymbalta oral with the generic name of Duloxetine is used to treat depression and anxiety, it improves mood, sleep, appetite and energy level of the user. Lexapro also known as Escitalopram is used to treat the same as Duloxetine but it works by restoring balance of certain natural substances in the brain and improve energy and feeling of being. Effexor XR known as Venlafaxine treats the same plus panic attacks and social anxiety disorder. It may improve mood and energy but it also decreases fear, anxiety, unwanted thoughts and panic attacks. Finally we have Celexa with the generic name of Citalopram Hydrobromide which is very similar to