Explore pharmaceutical options and make decisions centered on the client’s needs. You will be asked to make three
decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to a client in the assigned scenarios. The rationale for your
decisions must be supported with a minimum of five academic resources.
5 page paper written on the case study entitled, An African American Child Suffering from Depression.
Introduction to the case (Page 1)- Briefly explain and summarize the case for this assignment. Be sure to
include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision-making (age, race, etc) when prescribing
medication for this patient.

The client is an 8-year-old African American male who arrives at the ER with his mother. He is exhibiting signs
of depression.
Client complained of feeling “sad”
Mother reports that teacher said child is withdrawn from peers in class. Mother notes decreased appetite and
occasional periods of irritation. Client reached all developmental landmarks at appropriate ages. Physical exam
unremarkable. Laboratory studies WNL. Child referred to psychiatry for evaluation
MENTAL STATUS EXAM:
Alert & oriented X 3, speech clear, coherent, goal directed, spontaneous. Self-reported mood is “sad”. Affect
somewhat blunted, but child smiled appropriately at various points throughout the clinical interview. He denies
visual or auditory hallucinations. No delusional or paranoid thought processes noted. Judgment and insight
appear to be age-appropriate. He is not endorsing active suicidal ideation, but does admit that he often thinks
about himself being dead and what it would be like to be dead