Treating Patients with Impulsivity Compulsivity and Addiction

To this, impulsivity is used to refer to acting quickly without planning or adequate thought about action and related consequences, while compulsivity refers to the overall inability to control longings and propulsions towards an action. In the presented case, the 53-year-old client of Puerto Rican origin presents with signs of addiction, impulsivity, and compulsivity. It emerges that the client is addicted to gambling, alcohol abuse and smoking. The client terms the situation as "rather embarrassing" and needs help to quit the various addictions that she has. The mental state exam results fall within normal ranges, and the client reports no visual or auditory hallucinations. Otherwise, the drug has been associated with the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Campral also elicits similar reactions when used by persons who have not been on detox for a period of time.

The client was more likely to resume alcohol use. Campral is more recommended in the scenarios where the clients have already stopped the use of alcohol and other drugs. Expected Outcomes With a start on the intervention using Antabuse, it is expected that the client will have reduced tendencies to gamble, drink and smoke. Decision 2 With the partial success of the medication that the client has started on, it is recommended that they continue with the current dose of Antabuse and begin Wellbutrin (Bupoprion) XL 150mg Orally daily. The decision was chosen due to the partial success of Antabuse. While no consensus exists on the time span for the full effect of the medication, discontinuation at four weeks is not sufficient to gauge its optimal effect (Grant, Odlaug, & Schreiber, 2014).

Further, the medication had elicited the desired outcomes, save for the various side effects experienced by the client. Augmenting the medication with Bupropion will aid in the management of the side effects such as depression and associated fatigue. Her smoking has also reduced to a number of cigarettes in a day. Her gambling habit is also slightly under control with reduced spending at the casino. The outcome matches those expected with the initiation of the intervention measures. However, there is a further need for the reduction in the smoking habit and gambling. Decision 3 With the shown success of the medication, it is recommended that the current doses of each medication be maintained and that the client be referred to counseling for her gambling.

Ideally, the client should not be subjected to judgment over their condition, and the practitioners must approach the situation with an impartial placement (Lupi et al. Given that the clients are most of "embarrassed" about their condition, it is worthwhile that practitioners approach such cases impartially. When it comes to the medications, most target the ideals of making the client feel bad for taking the drug or alcohol with the hope that it will condition them to stop. This is not often the case, and the medications may be issued in vain. Further, medication adherence is not assured, and the interventions need to be monitored in various capacities. Grant, J. E. , Odlaug, B. L. , & Schreiber, L. Pharmacological treatments in gambling disorder: a qualitative review.