What This Document Is
This document presents a case study focused on a 35-year-old male patient, G.G., experiencing a panic disorder presentation in an emergency department setting. It’s designed for students in an Introduction to Nursing course (NURS G009) at Orange Coast College, utilizing the Giddens and HESI concept frameworks. The case unfolds progressively, presenting initial symptoms, diagnostic reasoning, treatment interventions, and considerations for ongoing care.
Why This Document Matters
This case study is valuable for nursing students learning to recognize and respond to psychiatric emergencies, specifically panic disorder. It bridges theoretical knowledge of anxiety and its physiological manifestations with a real-world clinical scenario. It’s used during psychiatric and alternative therapies coursework to develop assessment, care coordination, and patient education skills. Understanding this case will help students prepare for similar situations in clinical practice and build confidence in their ability to provide appropriate care.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document is a single case study and does not represent the full spectrum of panic disorder presentations. It focuses on the acute phase of care within an emergency department and doesn’t delve deeply into long-term management strategies or the complexities of underlying contributing factors. It’s a learning tool, not a comprehensive clinical guide.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes: a detailed patient presentation, a series of critical thinking questions related to assessment, diagnosis, medication management (specifically lorazepam and alprazolam), the impact of panic disorder on cognitive function, identification of potential triggers, a comparison of panic attacks and panic disorder as defined by the DSM-V, and discussion of coping techniques and treatment interventions. It also explores the psychosocial stressors contributing to the patient’s condition, including job loss, divorce, and bereavement. *This preview does not provide answers to the case study questions, detailed medication information beyond naming, or a complete explanation of the DSM-V criteria.* It is intended to give you an overview of the case and its learning objectives.