Psychology Case study

Referral Letter to Psychiatrist
Author’s Name
Institution

The responsibility of each Professional
In case there are legal matters that need handling, it is essential to ensure each professional knows and upholds their role in the treatment of a client. Issues that relate to the diagnosis of a mental disorder have to do with the psychiatrist. He/she has to ensure they have the correct diagnosis. They also answer claims relating to the prescription of drugs to treat the medical condition in question. The counselor, on the other hand, would answer towards the management guidelines he/she offers to the patient. He/she will have to answer if he/she in any way mislead the patient.
Issues that May Arise
One of the issues that might require legal and ethical consideration is the confidentiality of the information. For example, it is up to the patient to discuss if he or she will share specific details with the patients involved. If the counselor shares information with the psychiatrist without permission, he or she will have violated their confidentiality agreement. The client should also not be forced to see a psychiatrist. The counselor should consult with them before they set up a meeting. The transfer of information between the two parties should feature integrity. There should be no leakage of information as the counselor sends it to the psychiatrist and vice versa. The two parties should also overcome institutional barriers. They should ensure that the institutions for which they work allow collaboration between the counselor and the specific psychiatrist, especially if the latter is not based within the same institution.

14th May 2018
Counselor’s Name,
Name of Facility,
Address,
Psychiatrist’s Name,
Name of Facility,
Address,
Dear Sir
Re: Referral for Evaluation
I am writing to refer to you this client, Mary Livingstone, for an evaluation proposed last week. I made an appointment with your assistant, and if all goes as planned, you should expect the patient next week on Wednesday, at 1400hrs. This appointment ensued upon consultation with the client, and she is, therefore, willing to attend the scheduled evaluation and expectant of positive results. I have been working with my patient for the last four weeks, and our interactions have prompted me to seek your input towards her treatment.
My client is a sixteen-year-old hockey player and was referred to me by her coach. She lives with her mother and stepfather and reports no claims of abuse whatsoever. She has always been jovial but recently experiences depressive episodes characterized by sadness and occasional tantrums (NIMH, 2016). Mary has slacked regarding her attendance to practice sessions and showed up as she wishes. She also becomes overexcited for no reason sometimes and becomes extremely energetic, only to sink back into her moody state and depressive episodes. In her excited state, Mary reports insomnia and a need to be ‘more productive.’ Her excited state does not last long and rarely affects her interactions with others significantly.
These symptoms tend towards a diagnosis of bipolar disorder II. The symptoms match the definition according to the DSM-V guidelines for mental disorders (Dunner, 2017). However, I do not want to make a biased judgment and would greatly appreciate your input into the appropriate treatment options for Mary. I would appreciate it if you evaluate her and send me an evaluation towards the same. Also, suggest the best treatment combination for her. Propose a way in which she can benefit from therapy sessions and if there is need to introduce medication at this point (Wong, 2011).
Kind Regards
Yours Faithfully,
COUNSELOR’S NAME
Initials

References
Dunner, D. L. (2017). Bipolar II disorder. Bipolar Disorders, 19(7), 520-521. doi:10.1111/bdi.12567
NIMH. (2016, April). NIMH » Bipolar Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
Wong, M. M. (2011, January). Management of Bipolar II Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195150/