Alcoholism and Depression: Intervention Strategies

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Depression
Relationship between alcohol and depression
Depression treatment
Intervention
Emphasis on alcohol nursing interventions
Critique the clinical management of the client
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Jackson is a 32 year old client hospitalized after being diagnosed with depression as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol. According to test results, the patient’s blood sample shows traces of alcohol. The patient also had his family background traced to determine if there was an underlying case of alcoholism running through the family. When questioned about his association with alcohol, Jackson confessed that he had been using alcohol since he was 20 years old. He claimed that alcohol helps him to relieve stress. We now have medical evidence supporting the claim that prolonged use of alcohol affects the central nervous system of the brain and may indeed result in depression. Sometimes, alcoholism could be accompanied by such grave effects as prolonged illnesses and even cause death. There is compelling evidence to suggest the existence of an association between on the one hand, depression and on the other hand, alcohol dependence. A research study was carried out by the Stobhil General Hospital to determine the association between alcohol dependence and depression. Research findings of this study reveal that 67% of the patients were diagnosed with major depression after an administration of Affective Disorders of Schropherenia. On the other hand, 13% of the patients showed major depression following an alcoholic detoxification exercise. It is therefore imperative to examine the case of Jackson, the 32 year old client, while emphasising on alcoholism and depression. The intention of the research paper is to assess if indeed there is an association between alcoholism as manifested by Jackson, and a case of depression. Finally, the research paper shall explore the various ways in which the depression could be treated.

Based on the symptoms and diagnosis made on Jackson, his ailment can be categorized as alcoholism. Alcoholism is defined as a chronic disease that makes the body dependent on alcohol. The causes of alcoholism appear to be linked to both biochemical as well as genetic abnormalities (Elder, Katie & Nizette 2008, p.46). The good news is that with proper medication, it is quite possible to treat alcoholism. The most common forms of treatments for alcoholism are cognitive therapy and use of prescription tablets. A number of scholars have argued that elevated stress level is capable of causing an individual to start abusing alcohol. In this case, individuals with stress resort to taking of alcohol in the hope of forgetting their problems, albeit temporarily. Jackson exhibited signs of shyness during the various sessions he had with the therapist. This is indicative of an individual with low self esteem. Such individuals are more liekyl to engage in the consumptions of alcohol in the hope of uplifting their self confidence. Peer pressure is yet another reason why people end up as alcoholics. Jackson admitted that he had also been influenced by his close friends to consume alcohol.

Depression

Depression is a serious mental illness which lowers the self esteem of the individual. If left unchecked, the disease can cause death in very serious cases, and stomach ulcers in relatively mild cases. Depression alters the patterns of behaviour in an individual and also affect their social life’s is. Depression is a biologically-related disease as it negatively impacts the emotional and physical characteristic of the patient. In our case, the man was characterised by emotional melt down and a feeling of unworthiness that is low self esteem. He was also having a problem with socializing with other people and preferred an isolated life. Depression can be diagnosed and treated especially when detected early. We now have psychological tests that when performed, enables us to diagnose depression. An example of such a test is Beck Depression Inventory. By performing this test, we are in a better position to tell with certainly the onset of depression. In addition, we are also able to tell how long the symptoms of depression may last and how severe they will be. In this case, a performing a toxicology screening test may help us to diagnose/ drug-induced depression.

Relationship between alcohol and depression

After carrying out test and inquiring from the patient, there was a strong relationship between depression and his drinking habits. The old man confirmed that he had been using alcohol for a long time to ease stress. He argued that by taking alcohol he felt relieved and had a euphoric feeling. However, excessive consumption of alcohol affects part of the brain which results into depression. Studies have also shown that large number of patients suffering from depression result from drug related cases.

Depression treatment

In case of acute depression, antidepressants drugs can be administered. This makes the psychotherapy more effective on the patients. The other method used in treating depression is psychotherapy or talk therapy. This is an interactive method where a physician discusses the cause of the depression with the patient and proposes measures to be implemented in minimizing it. It involves verbal and non-verbal communication on the consequences of depression and touches also on the importance of dropping the causative agent: alcohol in our case.

Intervention

There are two ways in which we can accomplish nursing intervention.

The Psychiatric interventions

This form of nursing intervention is also referred to as biological intervention. It is still the most common mode of intervention. Therefore, an increasingly high number of nurses and psychiatrists find it useful while they are in the process of administering medication to their clients. The process of administering this medication involves an injection. In this case, the medication could be administered via use of tablets or through the mouth (orally). Alternatively, intramascular injection of the medication could be accomplished. Following the administering of this medication, it is the responsibility of the nurses to explore any possible side effects of the drug to the patient. In addition, the nurses are also charged with the responsibility of assessing the responses of the patients to the medication (Butcher, Mineka & Hooley 2007, p.56).

Psychiatric and mental health nursing-psychosocial interventions

This intervention is popular within mental health setting and include psychotherapy interventions such a cognitive behavioural therapy for depression. Nurses interact with the patients over a period of time and use psychological techniques designed to help the patient recover from depression.

Psychiatric and mental health nursing-spiritual interventions

This is more of a religious intervention as opposed to a medical one. The approach involves listening to the patient on a direct talk, in the hope that hope that he/she will change. This is designed to connect the person to God, a greater power that is believed to have the capability of transforming people. However, this does not find application in the modern mental health care institutions where they tend to rely on scientific theories.

Emphasis on alcohol nursing interventions

Mental health care nurses are extensively trained on the various methods of treating or managing alcoholic patients. In the case of Jackson, he was diagnosed with depression as a result of alcoholism. The most probable form of intervention is to put him in a rehabilitation centre where he can be assisted by nurses to fully recover. This separates the patient with alcohol and helps him in having a well-guided life with the aim of reducing the chances of recurrence should the patient be subjected to a similar environment. It requires extensive counselling to ensure that the patient stop taking alcohol in order to recover fully.

The other invention is the use of cognitive therapies. These are closely related to separation but slightly different; the patients in cognitive method are trained on how they can stop the consumption of alcohol without monitoring. The nurse may use conventions like ‘Stop’ to help the patient divert his mind every time he has a desire to take alcohol.

Critique the clinical management of the client

There are several causes of depression and some of them falls alcohol consumption. It is imperative that careful diagnoses of the cause of the depression are undertaken before choosing the treatment method. However, due to the perception that depression is characterized by consumption of alcohol, most medical practitioner does not pay much attention on other minor causative agents. This results in the patient not responding to medication even after being diagnosed of the disease.

Conclusion

Depression and alcoholism are closely related. They exhibit similar characteristics. However, both are treatable diseases. There are several medical inventions in place to help treat mental disorders. They include psychiatric, mental nursing-physical, and biological interventions, psychiatric and mental health nursing-psychosocial interventions and Psychiatric and mental health nursing-spiritual interventions. Nurses and medical practitioners are encouraged to carry a comprehensive diagnosis test to help in dealing with depression.

Reference List

Butcher, J. N., Mineka S., & Hooley J.M., 2007, Abnormal psychology. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Elder, R., Katie, E. & Nizette, D., 2008. Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Sydney, Australia: Elsevier.

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