A Young Girl with Difficulties in School
ADHD is a mental disorder where a patient develops trouble in concentrating as well as
exhibiting impulsive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Individuals suffering
from ADHD can be observed to be in constant movement. The onset of manifestations can be
observed in early childhood as it develops gradually into older developmental stages. The
hyperactive nature of these individuals increases as they grow older. They are observed to
become disorganized in their work ad are seen to be inattentive and often depicted to be
impulsive (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This write-up is focusing on three decisions
made concerning the diagnosis and treatment process of Katie, who is an 8-year-old Caucasian
female that reported to the health care facility for a psychiatric assessment.
Katie’s Background Information
The client is identified as an elementary school child that has been reported to be easily
distracted and often inattentive in class. She is reported to be making careless mistakes in school
and has a poor memory retention capability on her schoolwork. Her concentration span is
identified to be quite short and is observed to focus more on the thing that she regards to be
interesting to her. He is reported to be having problems relating to her classmates and is often
observed to be isolated while playing. The report was identified based on a Conner’s Teacher
Rating Scale that she was subjected to, while in school. Their private doctor requested that she
undertakes a psychiatric assessment to identify a treatment process based on the diagnosis she
will be described with. Her parents mentioned that she has not been responding to the medication
that she was prescribed. The client was observed to be restless during the assessment but again
showed appropriate development which is consistent with her age, with a neutral effect and clear
speech. I will consider several disorders to identify her specific diagnosis and treatment process.
, Decision One
The suitable diagnosis for the client is identified to be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder that is described with a predominant inattentive presentation (ADHD). This diagnosis is
identified entirely based on the information that was obtained from Katie’s report. With regards
to the diagnostic criteria of ADHD as identified by the American Psychiatric Association (2013),
it is indicated that a client is suffering from ADHD if they identify with a prolonged period of
hyperactive and impulsive characters which is observed for a period that is not less than 6
months and that should be unusual for the age group of the client and also affects their cognitive
and social functioning. The manifestations of ADHD are inclusive of, lack of concentration when
an individual is performing important tasks which may end up not being completed, wandering
mind, having difficulty in identifying with instructions, and not being keen to details (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to research conducted by Cordier et al. (2018), it is
indicated that ADHD is observed to be the most predominant mental disorder that is affecting
children and adolescents and causes degeneration in the cognitive and social functioning of the
individual. Such patients have trouble in their executive functions such as critical thinking and
problem solving, planning, orientation, irritability, sustained attention, and memory retention.
They are often observed to be having a flat affect and motivation delay. The symptoms described
above attribute to the social dysfunctioning exhibited by these clients (Cordier et al., 2018)
Additional indications of ADHD include consistent interruption of other people in
conversations, restlessness, and inability to be calm when performing leisure activities, excessive
talking, and observation of shouting answers even before questions are completely asked
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013). During the assessment, the client depicted a couple of
these manifestations while others were indicated in her baseline session by her parents. By this, it
ADHD is a mental disorder where a patient develops trouble in concentrating as well as
exhibiting impulsive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Individuals suffering
from ADHD can be observed to be in constant movement. The onset of manifestations can be
observed in early childhood as it develops gradually into older developmental stages. The
hyperactive nature of these individuals increases as they grow older. They are observed to
become disorganized in their work ad are seen to be inattentive and often depicted to be
impulsive (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This write-up is focusing on three decisions
made concerning the diagnosis and treatment process of Katie, who is an 8-year-old Caucasian
female that reported to the health care facility for a psychiatric assessment.
Katie’s Background Information
The client is identified as an elementary school child that has been reported to be easily
distracted and often inattentive in class. She is reported to be making careless mistakes in school
and has a poor memory retention capability on her schoolwork. Her concentration span is
identified to be quite short and is observed to focus more on the thing that she regards to be
interesting to her. He is reported to be having problems relating to her classmates and is often
observed to be isolated while playing. The report was identified based on a Conner’s Teacher
Rating Scale that she was subjected to, while in school. Their private doctor requested that she
undertakes a psychiatric assessment to identify a treatment process based on the diagnosis she
will be described with. Her parents mentioned that she has not been responding to the medication
that she was prescribed. The client was observed to be restless during the assessment but again
showed appropriate development which is consistent with her age, with a neutral effect and clear
speech. I will consider several disorders to identify her specific diagnosis and treatment process.
, Decision One
The suitable diagnosis for the client is identified to be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder that is described with a predominant inattentive presentation (ADHD). This diagnosis is
identified entirely based on the information that was obtained from Katie’s report. With regards
to the diagnostic criteria of ADHD as identified by the American Psychiatric Association (2013),
it is indicated that a client is suffering from ADHD if they identify with a prolonged period of
hyperactive and impulsive characters which is observed for a period that is not less than 6
months and that should be unusual for the age group of the client and also affects their cognitive
and social functioning. The manifestations of ADHD are inclusive of, lack of concentration when
an individual is performing important tasks which may end up not being completed, wandering
mind, having difficulty in identifying with instructions, and not being keen to details (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to research conducted by Cordier et al. (2018), it is
indicated that ADHD is observed to be the most predominant mental disorder that is affecting
children and adolescents and causes degeneration in the cognitive and social functioning of the
individual. Such patients have trouble in their executive functions such as critical thinking and
problem solving, planning, orientation, irritability, sustained attention, and memory retention.
They are often observed to be having a flat affect and motivation delay. The symptoms described
above attribute to the social dysfunctioning exhibited by these clients (Cordier et al., 2018)
Additional indications of ADHD include consistent interruption of other people in
conversations, restlessness, and inability to be calm when performing leisure activities, excessive
talking, and observation of shouting answers even before questions are completely asked
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013). During the assessment, the client depicted a couple of
these manifestations while others were indicated in her baseline session by her parents. By this, it
