Psychiatric Diagnosis Outline Paper Example

Fred showed symptoms associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) according to the explanation given by his wife, Margaret. MCI is a terminology used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) to represent the stage between the normal aging cognitive impairment and mental decline associated with dementia (Ganguli, 2013). Fred experienced memory loss, communication difficulties, and impaired judgment.

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Mild cognitive impairment is characterized by problems with language, judgment, thinking, and memory loss (Langa & Levine, 2014). It is hard for one to feel changes during the early stages of mental impairment, but those close to him notice the vicissitudes. When the illness succumbs the affected individual, it causes dementia; the syndrome is characterized by total memory loss, disorderly behavior, and inability to perform normal activities (Langa & Levine, 2014). Hence, Fred suffered from MCI that later deteriorated into dementia.

At first, Fred was not demented, which qualified him in regard to the MCI diagnostic criteria. The patient also experienced memory complaints and preserved cognitive functionality, which was first noticed by Margaret. Initially, Fred experienced intact activities of daily activities such as driven, and later, he suffered from impaired memory of education and age.

The MCI diagnostic criteria were appropriate for Fred because he portrayed objective evidence of cognitive impairment. Fred’s wife Margaret states that she would be confused whether the memory loss and cognitive impairment was associated with age. It was ideal that MCI diagnostic criteria are applied to assess Fred’s condition in regards to normal aging cognitive impairment and mental decline associated with dementia (Regier et al., 2013).

Mild cognitive impairment can be traced back to 1837, where Prichard explained the four stages of dementia. The American Psychiatric Association identified MCI as an early dementia stage in 1980 (Regier et al., 2013). The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) published in 1982 identified a predementia condition known as mild cognitive decline. The condition varied slightly from subjective cognitive impairment and mild dementia. In the year 2001, MCI was defined by Petersen and associates and has been widely used ever since (Regier et al., 2013).

In theory, MCI is associated with symptoms such as failure to identify faces or other familiar items in one’s life (Langa & Levine, 2014). A person suffering from MCI will also find it challenging to carry out their day-to-day activities. The condition is also associated with impaired judgment and difficulties in thinking (Langa & Levine, 2014). However, the symptoms are also associated with aging; hence, the affected person must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist (Langa & Levine, 2014).

According to a study conducted by Zijun Xu and associates, there is a higher incidence rate of MCI amongst older adults across all genders compared to the youth and middle-aged individuals (Xu et al., 2020). Similarly, Norlela Mohd Hussin and colleagues conducted a study regarding the incidence and predictors of MCI. The study identified that male sex, less mental activity, and poverty increased the chances of acquiring MCI (Hussin et al., 2019).

Males were proven to be less involved in mental activities unless in the case of divorce or being unmarried. People from a low social class are associated with stress and depression, which play a part in developing MCI. Older adults are popularly linked to MCI due to memory-related disorders.

There is no proven, evidence-based treatment for MCI; cholinesterase inhibitors, Ginkgo biloba, and memantine can aid in treating moderate to mild dementia. However, the drugs cannot treat MCI due to negative trials and lack of enough data. Non- evidence-based treatment options such as multi-component therapy is effective in treating MCI. The strategy is effective in managing mild MCI to moderate dementia but requires regular visits to a health care facility.

Conclusion

The most effective remedies for individuals with MCI are aerobic exercise, cardiovascular activity, and mental activity (Langa & Levine, 2014). There is a success rate of 5% to 20% for recovery from MCI if an individual can access the mentioned non-evidence practices (Langa & Levine, 2014). Additionally, with the help of a psychiatrist, the chances of recovery from MCI increases.

References

Regier, D., Kuhl, E., & Kupfer, D. (2013). The DSM-5: Classification and criteria changes. World Psychiatry, 12(2), 92-98. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20050 The study explores the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of mental disorders and revising the DSM-IV publication of 1994. The paper describes DSM-5 revisions in regards to changes projected to have the most significant clinical impact, improved diagnostic criteria, and facilitate harmonization.

Langa, K., & Levine, D. (2014). The Diagnosis and Management of Mild Cognitive Impairment. JAMA, 312(23), 2551. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.13806 The study’s objective was to present evidence regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of MCI. The study identified that MCI prevalence increases with age and males tend to be at a higher risk compared to women.

Hussin, N., Shahar, S., Yahya, H., Din, N., Singh, D., & Omar, M. (2019). Incidence and predictors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within a multi-ethnic Asian populace: a community-based longitudinal study. BMC Public Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7508-4 A longitudinal study exploring incidence rate and predictors of MCI in older adults. Interview- based questionnaires were conducted amongst older adults in Malaysia. Male sex and mental inactivity were identified as MCI predictors.

Ganguli, M. (2013). Can the DSM-5 framework enhance the diagnosis of MCI?. Neurology, 81(23), 2045-2050. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000436944.01023.e5 The study aim was to explore the MCI diagnostic framework model adopted by DSM-5. The researcher discussed the efficiency, effectiveness, and reliability of the framework in MCI diagnosis. Ganguli concluded that the framework could enhance the predictive value hence improving overall diagnosis.

Xu, Z., Zhang, D., Sit, R., Wong, C., Tiu, J., & Chan, D. et al. (2020). Incidence of and Risk factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Older Adults with Multimorbidity in Hong Kong. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60901-x The objective of the study was to identify the risk factors and incidence rate for MCI among older adults in china. The study inclusion criteria was older adults aged above 60 years. The results supported their hypothesis that there may be high incidence rate among Chinese older adults.