Social Work Practice and Psychopharmacology

Sophia F. Dziegielewski, Ph.D., LCSW, is a Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Central Florida.George A. Jacinto, PhD, LCSW, CPC, is Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.

• CONTENTSContributorsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPART I: MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS: WHAT EVERY SOCIAL WORKER NEEDS TO KNOW1. Use of Medications as Part of Health and Mental Health PracticeScope of PracticeBuilding Alliances: The Interdisciplinary TeamThe Rise of Psychopharmacology as a Treatment ModalityMedication as a Primary Treatment ModalityConsumer Expectations and the Pressure to PrescribeMedication and Psychotherapeutic ApproachesCase Example: JohnMedication Myths: Expectations Versus RealityEthical Issues in PsychopharmacologyIssues in Prescribing MedicationThe Role of the Social Worker: Person-in-SituationSummary and Conclusions2. Understanding How Medications Work: The Human BrainThe Brain: Understanding Structure and FunctionThe Importance of Imaging in Brain ScienceNeurons, Neurotransmitters, and Brain ActivityNeurochemicals and Mental HealthPharmacodynamics: Synaptic Activity and MedicationsMedications and the Body's ResponseRoutes of AdministrationSide EffectsRemoval of Drugs From the SystemRevitalization of the BrainSummary and Conclusions3. Practice Tips and Helping the ClientHow Medications Are NamedApproval of New MedicationsCreating Generic DrugsMedication Availability and PricingThe Cost of Generic Versus Brand NamesExpiration DatesCommon Medication TerminologyMedication Monitoring: Common Dosing MistakesMedical Terminology and the Official Do Not Use ListIdentifying Reactions and Adverse EffectsThe MedWatch ProgramTapering MedicationsCase Example: JoanMedication Information and the InternetBuying Medications on the InternetSummary and Conclusions4. Taking a Medication History, Documentation, and Treatment PlanningIncorporating a Macrolevel ApproachA Person-in-Environment Approach to AssessmentSpecial Considerations for a Culturally Sensitive ApproachAssessment and Medications With Minority PopulationsTaking a Medication HistoryImplementing a Successful ContinuanceProblem-Oriented RecordingDocumentation SkillsSummary and ConclusionsPART II: PRESCRIPTION AND NONPRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, HERBAL PREPARATIONS, AND SPECIAL POPULATIONS5. Prescription and Nonprescription Medications: What Every Social Worker Should KnowDrugs, Pharmaceuticals, and Medications: Legal and IllegalDrug Classification SchedulesPrescription MedicationsAvoiding Prescription ErrorsBlack Box WarningsHandling the Suicidal ClientHonoring Confidentiality and When to Take Protective ActionPrescription Drugs Used IllegallyTreatment of Substance Abuse or DependenceNonprescription or Over-the-Counter MedicationsAddiction to Over-the-Counter MedicationsLessons From the PastSummary and Conclusions6. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Introduction for Social WorkersThe Increased Popularity of Natural MedicineCase Example: Using a Natural RemedyChoosing Medical TreatmentsVitamins, Mineral Supplements, and Herbal RemediesIssues With Herbal PreparationsMarijuana for Medical UseCase Example: SAM-eCAM and Mental IllnessSocial Work and CAMSummary and ConclusionsAdditional Resources for Complementary and Alternative Medicine7. Special Populations: Medication Use in Children and Adolescents, Older Adults, and Women and PregnancySophia F. Dziegielewski, George A. Jacinto, Paul R. Clements, and Bethany WarickaChildren, Adolescents, and Mental IllnessWhat Makes Children and Adolescents UniqueProviding Comprehensive Care to Children and AdolescentsAssessing Children and AdolescentsMental Disorders and Ensuring Cultural SensitivityChildren, Adolescents, and MedicationSpecial TopicsOlder Adults: Services and Special NeedsPregnancy or Women Who Become PregnantSummary and ConclusionsPART III: MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE8. Mental Health Disorders and the Treatment of DepressionPrevalence of DepressionCase Example: JeanDepression: Completing a Comprehensive AssessmentMedication Intervention for DepressionTricyclic Antidepressants and Similar MedicationsMonoamine Oxidase InhibitorsSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsSerotonin–Norepinephrine Reuptake InhibitorsDrug InteractionsAntidepressants and the Risk of SuicideAlternative and Supportive Interventions: Electroconvulsive TherapySelf-Initiated Treatments for DepressionSpecial Issue: Depression and the Older AdultDirect Social Work InterventionDocumentation and Treatment PlanningSummary and Conclusions9. Treatment of Bipolar DisordersBipolar Disorder in Adults, Adolescents, and ChildrenThe Role of the Social WorkerCase Example: MichaelUnderstanding and Anticipating Mood EpisodesBipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymia, and Specified or Unspecified Bipolar DisorderAssessment of Bipolar DisorderInterventions With Clients Who Have Bipolar DisordersMedication InterventionMood Stabilizers: LithiumAnticonvulsant MedicationsAntidepressantsAtypical Antipsychotic MedicationsPsychopharmacotherapy and Social Work TreatmentPsychosocial InterventionsDocumentation and Treatment PlanningSupportive Interventions With Bipolar DisordersSummary and Conclusions10. Mental Health Disorders and the Treatment of Anxiety and StressPrevalence of AnxietyCase Example: Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderControlling Anxiety and Stress: Forming the Diagnostic ImpressionThe Presentation of Anxious ClientsPrevalence of Anxiety DisordersPanic DisorderPhobic DisordersPosttraumatic and Acute Stress DisordersGeneralized Anxiety DisorderInterventions for Clients Who Have AnxietyPsychopharmacological Assessment StrategyTypical Antianxiety MedicationsAtypical MedicationsAntidepressants in the Treatment of AnxietyTreating Anxiety: Medications Alone May Not Be EnoughPsychological InterventionsExposure Interventions and Systematic DesensitizationIntervention and Treatment PlanningEstablishing the Treatment PlanSummary and Conclusions11. Schizophrenia and Psychotic DisordersOverview and Prevalence of Schizophrenia and Psychotic DisordersCase Example: EvaSchizophrenia: Forming the Diagnostic ImpressionIntervention With Clients Who Suffer From PsychosisClient Systems and Building SupportHistory and Development of Antipsychotic MedicationsTraditional or Typical Antipsychotic MedicationsNewer or Nontraditional Antipsychotic MedicationsAntipsychotic Medications Used for Disruptive or Psychotic BehaviorsDocumentation and Treatment PlanningSupportive Interventions With SchizophreniaSummary and Conclusions12. Conclusion: Social Workers as Proactive ProfessionalsThe Importance of Lifestyle Factors in Mental HealthThe Importance of Psychosocial InterventionsRespecting Cultural MoresSocial Work in Behavioral HealthSummary and ConclusionsAppendix A: Resources and WebsitesAppendix B: Sample Assessment for Medication UseAppendix C: Glossary of TermsAppendix D: Medication and Herbal Preparation GlossaryAppendix E: Sample Treatment PlannersReferencesIndex